The blessing of the LORD makes rich, and he adds no sorrow with it.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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Proverbs 10:22
What does Proverbs 10:22 mean?
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Proverbs 10:22
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It's easy to read this as just saying God blesses the good with money. But the verse subtly points out that the way riches come matters profoundly – those blessed by the Lord receive wealth without the accompanying anxiety, greed, or fear that plague riches acquired through less godly means. This means the blessing isn't just the wealth itself, but the peace and freedom from sorrow that God attaches to it.
The blessing of the LORD makes rich, and he adds no sorrow with it.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This verse emerges from a larger section where Solomon contrasts the ways of the righteous with the wicked, showing how God's favor leads to true prosperity. It stands in contrast to the preceding verses, which highlight the fleeting nature of ill-gotten gains and the anxiety that accompanies them. Following this, the text continues to expound on the lasting security and peace found in living righteously, emphasizing that God's blessing brings a joy that wealth alone cannot provide.
Where does lasting prosperity really come from? Is it just hard work, or is there something more profound at play?
This verse cuts through the noise of self-made success and points us to the ultimate source of all good things: the Lord.
Divine Origination
It's easy to look at our jobs, our skills, or our good fortune and think, "I did this!" But Solomon reminds us that true wealth, the kind that truly enriches, originates from God's blessing. It's not merely about human effort or chance, but about God's favor resting upon our lives and endeavors.
Blessing, Not Just Luck
This isn't about a lucky break or a random windfall. A divine blessing implies a deliberate act of favor from God, shaping circumstances and outcomes for our good. It's the difference between finding money on the street and receiving a generous inheritance – one is happenstance, the other is a gift. This blessing is what transforms ordinary efforts into extraordinary prosperity.
Can wealth ever be truly 'good news'? This verse suggests a kind of richness that comes without its usual baggage.
The profound contrast in this verse isn't just about how we get rich, but about the quality of that richness.
Richness Without Sorrow
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The second half of the verse promises that God's blessing adds 'no sorrow with it.' This means the prosperity He grants is pure, without the usual anxieties, guilt, or hidden costs that often accompany wealth acquired through ungodly means or pursued with the wrong heart.
Peace and Contentment
Wealth gained through God's blessing brings contentment, peace, and a freedom from the gnawing worries that plague those who chase riches for their own sake. It's not about a lack of challenges in life, but that the wealth itself doesn't become a source of internal turmoil, fear of loss, or guilt over its acquisition or use.
Understand the original words
berakah · Hebrew Noun
A bestowing of favor, prosperity, or divine benefit by God. It signifies God’s active grace in the life of His people, often manifesting as spiritual or material welfare.
YHWH · Hebrew Proper Noun
The personal name of the covenant God of Israel (Yahweh). It signifies His self-existence, faithfulness to His promises, and supreme authority over all creation.
This passage echoes Proverbs 10:22 by emphasizing that true wealth and the ability to enjoy it come from God's blessing, not just human effort, reminding us that God gives us the power to gain wealth.
Matthew 6:33Jesus' teaching to seek first God's kingdom and righteousness directly supports the idea that when God's blessing is paramount, He adds worldly provisions without the attendant sorrow that comes from pursuing riches first.
Ecclesiastes 5:19This verse resonates with Proverbs 10:22 by highlighting the joy and contentment that accompany God's gift of possessions, contrasting it with the anxiety and lack of fulfillment often found in wealth obtained apart from God's favor.
Psalm 127:1-2These verses powerfully illustrate Proverbs 10:22 by stating that any building, guarding, or labor without the Lord's blessing is ultimately in vain, reinforcing the idea that true prosperity and peace come from Him.
pulpitProverbs 10:22: "The blessing of the LORD, it maketh rich, and he addeth no sorrow with it."
Verse 22. - The blessing of the Lord. The Septuagint adds, "upon the head of the righteous," as in Ver. 6. Not chance and luck, not even industry and labour, but God giveth the increase (Ecclesiastes 5:18, 19). He addeth no sorrow with it; i.e. with the Blessing. In acquiring and in using wealth thus blessed, the good man is contented and happy, while unsanctified fiches bring only trouble and vexation.…
ellicottProverbs 10:22: "The blessing of the LORD, it maketh rich, and he addeth no sorrow with it."
(22) And he addeth no sorrow with it— whereas riches without God’s blessing bring only trouble with them. Or the passage may mean, “And labour adds nothing thereto.” (Comp. Psalm 127:2 . where God is said to give to His beloved while they sleep all that others toil early and late for in vain.)
It's easy to read this as just saying God blesses the good with money. But the verse subtly points out that the way riches come matters profoundly – those blessed by the Lord receive wealth without the accompanying anxiety, greed, or fear that plague riches acquired through less godly means. This means the blessing isn't just the wealth itself, but the peace and freedom from sorrow that God attaches to it.
This verse emerges from a larger section where Solomon contrasts the ways of the righteous with the wicked, showing how God's favor leads to true prosperity. It stands in contrast to the preceding verses, which highlight the fleeting nature of ill-gotten gains and the anxiety that accompanies them. Following this, the text continues to expound on the lasting security and peace found in living righteously, emphasizing that God's blessing brings a joy that wealth alone cannot provide.
This verse emerges from a larger section where Solomon contrasts the ways of the righteous with the wicked, showing how God's favor leads to true prosperity. It stands in contrast to the preceding verses, which highlight the fleeting nature of ill-gotten gains and the anxiety that accompanies them. Following this, the text continues to expound on the lasting security and peace found in living righteously, emphasizing that God's blessing brings a joy that wealth alone cannot provide.
"The blessing of the LORD makes rich, and he adds no sorrow with it." — It's easy to read this as just saying God blesses the good with money. But the verse subtly points out that the way riches come matters profoundly – those blessed by the Lord receive wealth without…
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Last reviewed October 2026