“A little that a righteous man hath is better than the riches of many wicked.”
My Notes
What Does Psalms 37:16 Mean?
David makes a comparative value judgment: a little that a righteous person has is better than the riches of many wicked. The quantity isn't the measure. The quality of the possessor determines the value. A small amount in righteous hands exceeds a fortune in wicked ones.
The word "little" (me'at — few, small, insignificant) describes the righteous person's portion. It's not much by worldly standards. The "riches" (hamon — abundance, wealth, multitude) of the wicked are vast. The comparison is lopsided: a small amount versus a large amount. And the small amount wins.
The reason is implied throughout Psalm 37: the wicked's wealth is temporary (verse 10 — "yet a little while, and the wicked shall not be") while the righteous person's little is sustained by God (verse 17 — "the LORD upholdeth the righteous"). The little has divine support. The riches have an expiration date.
Reflection Questions
- 1.Does the idea that a 'little with righteousness' exceeds 'riches with wickedness' match your actual experience?
- 2.Where are you measuring your life by amount (how much) rather than by character (how held)?
- 3.How does knowing the wicked's wealth has an expiration date change your envy of their abundance?
- 4.Is your 'little' sustained by God — and does that make it enough?
Devotional
A little, with righteousness. Or a fortune, with wickedness. David says the little wins.
The math doesn't work by worldly standards. A little is less than a fortune. A small amount in one hand is worth less than a large amount in the other. Unless you factor in what's holding each hand. The righteous hand is held by God (verse 17). The wicked hand is about to be broken (verse 17).
The little that the righteous has is better because it's sustained. It doesn't run out. It doesn't get taken. It doesn't depend on the schemes that produced it. The righteous person's small portion is backed by divine supply — which means the little is actually unlimited. It's a well-fed stream, not a stagnant puddle.
The riches of the wicked are worse because they're doomed. However vast the fortune, it has an expiration date. The wicked's abundance is like a massive bank account in a bank that's about to close. The number looks impressive. The institution that holds it is collapsing.
David isn't romanticizing poverty. He's not saying less is always better. He's saying: the character of the possessor determines the value of the possession. A little in righteous hands is sustained, blessed, and enjoyed. A fortune in wicked hands is eroding, cursed, and anxious.
How much do you have? Less than you want, probably. But if your hands are righteous — if your little is held with integrity and sustained by God — your little is worth more than the wicked's empire.
Don't measure by the amount. Measure by the hand that holds it.
Commentary
Trusted original commentary from respected historical Bible scholars and theologians.
For the arms of the wicked shall be broken,.... That is, their sword arm, with which they have drawn it; and so shall…
A little that a righteous man hath - literally, “Good is a little to the righteous, more than,” etc. Our translation,…
In these verses we have,
I. The foregoing precepts inculcated; for we are so apt to disquiet ourselves with needless…
Cross References
Related passages throughout Scripture