Wealthy Wisdom from The Book of Proverbs: 50+ Proverbs About Money

If the wealthiest person of all time gave you money advice, would you listen? What if I told you that you have access to this rich content today? King Solomon, the richest man who ever lived, wrote The Book of Proverbs, and it’s loaded with wisdom about how to create, steward, and keep wealth. 

So just how wealthy was Solomon? For starters, he received 25 tons of gold every year. (1 Kings 10:14-15) He was also a master in the marketplace. Solomon oversaw commerce and trade routes that brought in billions in today’s dollars annually, which led Israel into its Golden Age.

All of that started with a prayer for wisdom and the diligence to apply it. 

Wisdom Before Wealth

In 1 Kings 3, God appeared to Solomon in a dream and urged him to ask for whatever he wanted. Solomon asked for “an understanding heart so that I can govern your people and know the difference between right and wrong. For who by himself is able to govern this great people of yours?” (1 Kings 3:9)

God replied, 

“Because you have asked for wisdom in governing my people with justice and have not asked for a long life or wealth or the death of your enemies– I will give you what you asked for! I will give you a wise and understanding heart such as no one has had or ever will have! And I will also give you what you did not ask for–riches and fame! No other king in all the world will be compared to you for the rest of your life.” (1 Kings 3:11-14)

King Solomon is an iconic example of this tried and true biblical finance principle: money is attracted, not pursued. Aim for wisdom rather than wealth, and wealth will follow! 

Solomon’s wisdom was a magnet for wealth. People from all over the world traveled to hear his wisdom, including The Queen of Sheba. They brought extravagant gifts in exchange for his wisdom and insights.

The Book of Proverbs is full of Solomon’s practical wisdom about wealth (and so much more.) Keep scrolling, and meditate on these scriptures and apply them–your life will never be the same.

Wisdom from The Book of Proverbs: 50+ Proverbs About Money 

 

Proverbs 1:19

“Such is the fate of all who are greedy for money; it robs them of life.”

 

Proverbs 2:2-5

“Tune your ears to wisdom, and concentrate on understanding. Cry out for insight, and ask for understanding. Search for them as you would for silver, and seek them like hidden treasures. Then you will understand what it means to fear the Lord, and you will gain knowledge of God.”

 

Proverbs 3:3-4

“Never let loyalty and kindness leave you! Tie them around your neck as a reminder. Write them deep within your heart. Then you will find favor with both God and people, and you will earn a good reputation.”

 

Proverbs 3:9-10

“Honor the Lord with your possessions,

And with the firstfruits of all your increase;

So your barns will be filled with plenty,

And your vats will overflow with new wine.”

 

Proverbs 3:13-16

“Joyful is the person who finds wisdom, the one who gains understanding. For wisdom is more profitable than silver, and her wages are better than gold. Wisdom is more precious than rubies; nothing you desire can compare with her. She offers you a long life in her right hand, and riches and honor in her left.”

 

Proverbs 4:8-9

“If you prize wisdom, she will make you great. Embrace her, and she will honor you. She will place a lovely wreath on your head; she will present you with a beautiful crown.”

 

Proverbs 6:1-4

“My child if you have put up security for a friend’s debt

    or agreed to guarantee the debt of a stranger—

if you have trapped yourself by your agreement

    and are caught by what you said—

follow my advice and save yourself,

    for you have placed yourself at your friend’s mercy.

Now swallow your pride;

    go and beg to have your name erased.

Don’t put it off; do it now!

    Don’t rest until you do.”

 

Proverbs 6:10-11

“A little extra sleep, a little more slumber,

    a little folding of the hands to rest—

 then poverty will pounce on you like a bandit;

    scarcity will attack you like an armed robber.”

 

Proverbs 8:10-11

“Choose my instruction rather than silver, and knowledge rather than pure gold. For wisdom is far more valuable than rubies. Nothing you desire can compare with it.”

 

Proverbs 8:18-21

“I (wisdom) have riches and honor, as well as enduring wealth and justice. My gifts are better than gold, even the purest gold, my wages better than sterling silver! I walk in righteousness, in paths of justice. Those who love me inherit wealth. I will fill their treasuries.”

Wisdom from The Book of Proverbs: 50+ Proverbs About Money

 

Proverbs 10:2

“Tainted wealth has no lasting value, but right living can save your life.”

 

Proverbs 10:3 

“The Lord will not let the godly go hungry, but he refuses to satisfy the craving of the wicked.”

 

Proverbs 10:4-5

“Lazy people are soon poor; hard workers get rich. A wise youth harvests in the summer, but one who sleeps during harvest is a disgrace.”

 

Proverbs 10:15

“The wealth of the rich is their fortress;

    the poverty of the poor is their destruction.”

 

Proverbs 10:16

“The earnings of the godly enhance their lives,

    but evil people squander their money on sin.”

 

Proverbs 10:20

“The words of the godly are like sterling silver;

    the heart of a fool is worthless.”

 

Proverbs 10:22

“The blessing of the Lord makes a person rich,

    and he adds no sorrow with it.”

 

Proverbs 11:1

“The Lord detests the use of dishonest scales,

    but he delights in accurate weights.”

 

Proverbs 11:4

“Riches won’t help on the day of judgment,

    but right living can save you from death.”

Proverbs 11:10-11 (NIV)

“When the righteous prosper, the city rejoices; when the wicked perish, there are shouts of joy. Through the blessing of the upright a city is exalted, but by the mouth of the wicked it is destroyed.”

 

Proverbs 11:14 (ESV)

“Where there is no guidance, a people falls, but in an abundance of counselors there is safety.”

 

Proverbs 11:15 

“There’s danger in putting up security for a stranger’s debt;

    it’s safer not to guarantee another person’s debt.”

 

Proverbs 11:16

“A gracious woman gains respect,

    but ruthless men gain only wealth.”

“Evil people get rich for the moment,

    but the reward of the godly will last.”

 

Proverbs 11:23

“The godly can look forward to a reward,

    while the wicked can expect only judgment.

 

Proverbs 11:24-26

“Give freely and become more wealthy;

    be stingy and lose everything.

The generous will prosper;

    those who refresh others will themselves be refreshed.

People curse those who hoard their grain,

    but they bless the one who sells in time of need.”

Proverbs 11:28
“Trust in your money and down you go!
But the godly flourish like leaves in spring.”

 

Proverbs 11:29
“Those who bring trouble on their families inherit the wind.
The fool will be a servant to the wise.”

 

Proverbs 12:11-12
“A hard worker has plenty of food,
but a person who chases fantasies has no sense.

Thieves are jealous of each other’s loot,
but the godly are well rooted and bear their own fruit.”

 

Proverbs 12:27
“Lazy people do not even cook the game they catch, but the diligent make use of everything they find.”

 

Proverbs 13:4
“Lazy people want much but get little,
but those who work hard will prosper.”

 

Proverbs 13:7-8
“Some who are poor pretend to be rich;
others who are rich pretend to be poor.

The rich can pay a ransom for their lives,
but the poor won’t even get threatened.”

 

Proverbs 13:11
“Wealth from get-rich-quick schemes quickly disappears;
wealth from hard work grows over time.”

 

Proverbs 13:22

“Good people leave an inheritance to their grandchildren,
but the sinner’s wealth passes to the godly.”

 

Proverbs 14:4

“Without oxen a stable stays clean,

    but you need a strong ox for a large harvest.”

 

Proverbs 14:20-21

“The poor are despised even by their neighbors,

    while the rich have many “friends.”

It is a sin to belittle one’s neighbor;

    blessed are those who help the poor.”

 

Proverbs 14:23-24

“Work brings profit,

    but mere talk leads to poverty!

Wealth is a crown for the wise;

    the effort of fools yields only foolishness.”

 

Proverbs 14:31

“Those who oppress the poor insult their Maker,

    but helping the poor honors him.”

Wisdom from The Book of Proverbs: 50+ Proverbs About Money

Proverbs 15:6

“There is treasure in the house of the godly,

    but the earnings of the wicked bring trouble.”

 

Proverbs 15:16

“Better to have little, with fear for the Lord,

    than to have great treasure and inner turmoil.”

Proverbs 16:3

“Commit your actions to the Lord, and your plans will succeed.”

 

Proverbs 16:8

“Better to have little, with godliness, than to be rich and dishonest.”

 

Proverbs 16:18-19

“Pride goes before destruction,
    and haughtiness before a fall.

Better to live humbly with the poor
    than to share plunder with the proud.”

 

Proverbs 16:20

“Those who listen to instruction will prosper;

    those who trust the Lord will be joyful.”

 

Proverbs 17:2

“A wise servant will rule over the master’s disgraceful son

    and will share the inheritance of the master’s children.”

 

Proverbs 17:8

“A bribe is like a lucky charm;

    whoever gives one will prosper!”

 

Proverbs 17:16

“It is senseless to pay to educate a fool,

    since he has no heart for learning.”

 

Proverbs 17:18

“It’s poor judgment to guarantee another person’s debt

    or put up security for a friend.”

 

Proverbs 17:20

“The crooked heart will not prosper;

    the lying tongue tumbles into trouble.”

Proverbs 18:11-12

“The rich think of their wealth as a strong defense;

    they imagine it to be a high wall of safety.

Haughtiness goes before destruction;

    humility precedes honor.”

 

Proverbs 19:4

“Wealth makes many “friends”;

    poverty drives them all away.”

 

Proverbs 19:6-7

“Many seek favors from a ruler;

    everyone is the friend of a person who gives gifts!

The relatives of the poor despise them;

    how much more will their friends avoid them!

Though the poor plead with them,

    their friends are gone.”

 

Proverbs 19:17

“If you help the poor, you are lending to the Lord—

    and he will repay you!”

 

Proverbs 20:4

“Those too lazy to plow in the right season

    will have no food at the harvest.”

 

Proverbs 20:13

“If you love sleep, you will end in poverty.

    Keep your eyes open, and there will be plenty to eat!”

Proverbs 20:21

“An inheritance obtained too early in life

    is not a blessing in the end.”

 

Proverbs 21:5-6

“Good planning and hard work lead to prosperity,

    but hasty shortcuts lead to poverty.

Wealth created by a lying tongue

    is a vanishing mist and a deadly trap.”

 

Proverbs 21:20

“The wise have wealth and luxury,

    but fools spend whatever they get.”

 

Proverbs 22:1

“Choose a good reputation over great riches;

    being held in high esteem is better than silver or gold.”

 

Proverbs 22:2

“The rich and poor have this in common:

    The Lord made them both.”

 

Proverbs 22:4

“True humility and fear of the Lord

    lead to riches, honor, and long life.”

 

Proverbs 22:7

“Just as the rich rule the poor,

    so the borrower is servant to the lender.”

 

Proverbs 22:16

“A person who gets ahead by oppressing the poor

    or by showering gifts on the rich will end in poverty.”

Proverbs 22:29

“Do you see any truly competent workers?

    They will serve kings

    rather than working for ordinary people.”

 

Proverbs 23:4-5

“Don’t wear yourself out trying to get rich.

    Be wise enough to know when to quit.

In the blink of an eye wealth disappears,

    for it will sprout wings

    and fly away like an eagle.”

 

Proverbs 24:3-4

“A house is built by wisdom

    and becomes strong through good sense.

Through knowledge its rooms are filled

    with all sorts of precious riches and valuables.”

 

Proverbs 24:27

“Do your planning and prepare your fields

    before building your house.”

 

Proverbs 25:11-12

“Timely advice is lovely,

    like golden apples in a silver basket.

To one who listens, valid criticism

    is like a gold earring or other gold jewelry.”

 

Proverbs 27:18

“As workers who tend a fig tree are allowed to eat the fruit, so workers who protect their employer’s interests will be rewarded.” 

 

Proverbs 27:23-27

“Know the state of your flocks,

    and put your heart into caring for your herds,

for riches don’t last forever,

    and the crown might not be passed to the next generation.

After the hay is harvested and the new crop appears

    and the mountain grasses are gathered in,

your sheep will provide wool for clothing,

    and your goats will provide the price of a field.

And you will have enough goats’ milk for yourself,

    your family, and your servant girls.”

 

Proverbs 28:8

“Income from charging high interest rates

    will end up in the pocket of someone who is kind to the poor.”

 

Proverbs 28:11

“Rich people may think they are wise,

    but a poor person with discernment can see right through them.”

 

Proverbs 28:19-20

“A hard worker has plenty of food,

    but a person who chases fantasies ends up in poverty.

 

The trustworthy person will get a rich reward,

    but a person who wants quick riches will get into trouble.”

 

Proverbs 31:16-18

“She goes to inspect a field and buys it;

    with her earnings she plants a vineyard.

She is energetic and strong,

    a hard worker.

She makes sure her dealings are profitable;

    her lamp burns late into the night.”

We hope this wisdom from the Book of Proverbs encouraged you today. For more content about God’s purpose for wealth, check out the following blog: What Does the Bible Say About Money?