A faithful man will abound with blessings, but whoever hastens to be rich will not go unpunished.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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Proverbs 28:20
What does Proverbs 28:20 mean?
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Proverbs 28:20
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The verse contrasts a "faithful man" not just with someone who is rich, but with someone who hastens to be rich. This highlights that it's the eagerness and potentially unscrupulous methods of pursuing wealth, rather than wealth itself, that carries the consequence of not being innocent or unpunished.
A faithful man will abound with blessings, but whoever hastens to be rich will not go unpunished.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This verse is part of a collection of wisdom sayings contrasting the upright with the wicked, focusing on character and its consequences. It follows verses that directly address the rebellion against wisdom and the negative outcomes of deceit, setting up a clear comparison between faithfulness and a greedy rush for wealth. The verses immediately after continue this theme, contrasting the righteous and the wicked with specific actions and their differing fates.
What does it really mean to be 'faithful' in God's eyes? It's more than just showing up; it's about integrity in every aspect of life.
The verse starts with a powerful statement: 'A faithful man shall abound with blessings.' The original Hebrew points to a 'man of truths,' someone who is reliable, honest, and upright in all their dealings. This isn't just about being honest in big decisions, but in the everyday. It's about being true to your word, fulfilling your promises, and being trustworthy in every responsibility, whether great or small.
Think about it: When you know someone is truly faithful, you trust them. They become 'much in blessings,' both from people who value their character and from God, who honors such integrity. This faithfulness can also extend to spiritual truths – holding fast to the Gospel and living by its principles.
Chasing wealth too quickly can lead you down a perilous path. What happens when our desire for riches overrides our integrity?
The second half of the verse delivers a stark warning: 'but whoever hastens to be rich shall not be innocent.' This isn't just about acquiring wealth, but about the haste involved. It points to an unhealthy, immoderate desire for riches that drives people to take shortcuts, be unscrupulous in their methods, or prioritize gain above all else.
Such haste often implies deceit, fraud, or at the very least, an anxiety that borders on sin. It stands in direct opposition to the faithfulness mentioned in the first part of the verse. While someone might not be caught for fraud, their heart is revealed as impure. The rush to get rich means they are not innocent – they will face consequences, whether from human systems or, more certainly, from God.
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Understand the original words
emunim · Hebrew Adjective/Noun
Refers to being reliable, trustworthy, and firm in character. It is often used of God's character and of those who reflect His nature in their conduct.
berakah · Hebrew Noun
The act of divine favor or the reception of good things from God, which often flows from obedience and living according to His wisdom.
This passage echoes the principle that actions have consequences, directly linking to Proverbs 28:20's warning against hasty, potentially unrighteous gain and its promise of blessings for faithfulness.
1 Timothy 6:10This verse highlights the dangers of the *love* of money, which is the root of the hasty pursuit of riches condemned in Proverbs 28:20, showing the underlying spiritual issue.
Matthew 6:33Here, Jesus calls us to seek God's kingdom first, a profound parallel to the 'faithfulness' praised in Proverbs 28:20, suggesting that true blessings flow from prioritizing God over a hasty pursuit of earthly wealth.
Hebrews 13:5This verse encourages contentment with what one has, directly contrasting with the anxious 'haste to be rich' mentioned in Proverbs 28:20, and implying that contentment is a pathway to a different kind of blessing.
Luke 16:10-11Jesus teaches that faithfulness in worldly matters, even wealth, demonstrates faithfulness in greater spiritual responsibilities, reinforcing the value of the 'faithful man' in Proverbs 28:20.
pooleProverbs 28:20: "A faithful man shall abound with blessings: but he that maketh haste to be rich shall not be innocent."
A faithful man, Heb. a man of truth , or truths , who deals truly and justly in all his bargains and transactions with men. That maketh haste; more than God alloweth him; that taketh the nearest and readiest way to riches, whether it be right or wrong; that is unfaithful and unjust in his dealings. Shall not be innocent; shall not obtain the blessings which he seeks, but shal…
clarkeProverbs 28:20: "A faithful man shall abound with blessings: but he that maketh haste to be rich shall not be innocent."
He that maketh haste to be rich - See Proverbs 13:11 ; Proverbs 20:21 .
The verse contrasts a "faithful man" not just with someone who is rich, but with someone who hastens to be rich. This highlights that it's the eagerness and potentially unscrupulous methods of pursuing wealth, rather than wealth itself, that carries the consequence of not being innocent or unpunished.
This verse is part of a collection of wisdom sayings contrasting the upright with the wicked, focusing on character and its consequences. It follows verses that directly address the rebellion against wisdom and the negative outcomes of deceit, setting up a clear comparison between faithfulness and a greedy rush for wealth. The verses immediately after continue this theme, contrasting the righteous and the wicked with specific actions and their differing fates.
This verse is part of a collection of wisdom sayings contrasting the upright with the wicked, focusing on character and its consequences. It follows verses that directly address the rebellion against wisdom and the negative outcomes of deceit, setting up a clear comparison between faithfulness and a greedy rush for wealth. The verses immediately after continue this theme, contrasting the righteous and the wicked with specific actions and their differing fates.
"A faithful man will abound with blessings, but whoever hastens to be rich will not go unpunished." — The verse contrasts a "faithful man" not just with someone who is rich, but with someone who hastens to be rich. This highlights that it's the eagerness and potentially unscrupulous methods of…
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Last reviewed October 2026