It’s better to be humble and have little than to be rich and arrogant. The proverb claims that joining proud, selfish people—even if it means sharing their wealth—leads to more harm than good. The Hebrew word for humble is shefal-ruach (שְׁפַל־רוּחַ), literally “low of spirit,” meaning someone who doesn’t put themselves above others.

This is counter-cultural in a world that often equates success with money and status. The verse insists that character matters more than cash, and that it’s safer and wiser to keep your integrity, even if it means missing out on material perks.

If you’ve ever had to choose between fitting in with a powerful crowd and staying true to yourself, this proverb is for you. It suggests that long-term peace and self-respect are worth more than any short-term gain you might get from going along with people who look down on others.