Proverbs 16:19 (WEB)

Passage

It is better to be of a lowly spirit with the poor, than to divide the plunder with the proud.

Nearby Context

Proverbs 16:17 The highway of the upright is to depart from evil. He who keeps his way preserves his soul.

Proverbs 16:18 Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.

Proverbs 16:19 It is better to be of a lowly spirit with the poor, than to divide the plunder with the proud.

Proverbs 16:20 He who heeds the Word finds prosperity. Whoever trusts in Yahweh is blessed.

Proverbs 16:21 The wise in heart shall be called prudent. Pleasantness of the lips promotes instruction.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "Spirit", "better", "lowly", "poor", "than", "divide", "plunder", and "proud". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "Spirit" and "better", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 18's "Pride goes before destruction and a haughty..." into verse 20's "He who heeds the Word finds prosperity...", so "Spirit" and "better" 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 "Spirit" and "better" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.