Proverbs 16:8 (DRB)

Passage

Better is a little with justice, than great revenues with iniquity.

Nearby Context

Proverbs 16:6 By mercy and truth iniquity is redeemed; and by the fear of the Lord men depart from evil.

Proverbs 16:7 When the ways of man shall please the Lord, he will convert even his enemies to peace.

Proverbs 16:8 Better is a little with justice, than great revenues with iniquity.

Proverbs 16:9 The heart of man disposeth his way: but the Lord must direct his steps.

Proverbs 16:10 Divination is in the lips of the king, his mouth shall not err in judgment.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "better", "little", "justice", "than", "great", "revenues", and "iniquity". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "better" and "little", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 7's "When the ways of man shall please..." into verse 9's "The heart of man disposeth his way...", so "better" and "little" belong inside that flow. In Proverbs context, the local focus is covenant, worship, and faithfulness.

A plain takeaway is to answer the verse's own emphasis on "better" and "little" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.