than great gain with injustice
This part of the verse contrasts the previous phrase by highlighting the futility and moral compromise of acquiring wealth through unjust means. In the historical and cultural context of ancient Israel, justice was a foundational principle of society, as seen in the laws given to Moses, which emphasized fair treatment and honesty in business dealings (Leviticus 19:35-36). The pursuit of wealth through injustice is condemned throughout the Bible, as seen in passages like Proverbs 11:1, "The LORD detests dishonest scales, but accurate weights find favor with him." This phrase serves as a warning against the temptation to prioritize financial success over ethical conduct. It also reflects the broader biblical narrative that true prosperity is found in living a life pleasing to God, rather than in the accumulation of wealth through corrupt means.

• The proverb opens by setting up a comparison, guiding us to weigh two options on God’s scale, not the world’s.

• Scripture often frames life decisions this way: Proverbs 15:16 says, “Better is a little with the fear of the LORD than great treasure with turmoil,” reminding us that value is measured by God’s standards.

• The word “Better” invites us to pause and test our instincts. Are we ready to believe that what looks smaller can actually be superior if God calls it good?

• “A little” points to modest means, an ordinary paycheck, or even scarcity.

• It is not glorifying poverty but acknowledging that material size is not the ultimate metric.

• Cross references reinforce this: Psalm 37:16—“Better is the little that the righteous man has than the abundance of many wicked,” and Proverbs 28:6—“Better the poor who walk in integrity than a rich man whose ways are perverse.”

• The verse reassures believers who may feel overlooked financially that God’s approval outweighs any ledger.

• The small amount is paired with “righteousness,” which is living in line with the Lord’s character and commands.

• Righteousness keeps “a little” from turning into self-pity; it transforms it into worship.

• Jesus affirms the priority: “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you” (Matthew 6:33).

• Having less but walking uprightly means our resources, though limited, are free from guilt and blessed for good use (Proverbs 10:22).

• Now the spotlight shifts to “great gain,” the windfall everyone chases.

• Scripture never condemns wealth in itself (Abraham and Job were wealthy), yet it repeatedly warns about the dangers of craving it: 1 Timothy 6:9-10 warns that “those who want to be rich fall into temptation.”

• The contrast shows that size alone does not impress God; character does.

• Without a righteous heart, “great gain” can become a heavy burden that drags the soul away from God (Proverbs 11:4, Luke 12:15).

• “Injustice” unmasks the source of the wealth: cheating, exploiting, or twisting the rules.

• God sees every ledger entry and judges what was hidden (Proverbs 21:6).

• Micah 6:10-12 decries fraudulent scales; Habakkuk 2:6-9 pronounces woe on builders of fortunes by unjust means.

• Injustice poisons the heart and the harvest. No amount of money can cover the stain or shield from God’s righteous judgment (Jeremiah 17:11).

Proverbs 16:8 teaches that God measures success not by the size of the bank account but by the integrity behind it. A modest life, honestly earned and aligned with God’s ways, is genuinely better than a fortune piled up through crooked schemes. Choosing righteousness may limit worldly gain, yet it secures God’s favor, peace of conscience, and eternal reward—the richest return any believer could desire.

Βούλεο δ εὐσεβέων ὀλίγοις σὺν χρήμασιν οἰκεῖν
Η πλουτεῖν ἀδίκως χρήματα πασάμενος.

"Wish thou with scanty means pious to live,
Rather than rich with large, ill-gotten wealth." Another maxim says to the same effect -

Λεπτῶς καλῶς ζῇν κρεῖσσον η} λαμπρῶς κακῶς. Septuagint, "Better is small getting (λῆψις) with righteousness, than great revenues with iniquity" (see on Proverbs 15:29).

Parallel Commentaries ...