The rich man’s wealth is his strong city, and as an high wall in his own conceit.
Wealth looks to the one who holds it like a fortified city and like a towering wall, yet that safety stands only in his fancy and self-conceit. It supplies no genuine strength, and earthly riches give no true shelter to the proud man who puts his confidence in them. They are fleeting, for calamity or an unlucky investment can sweep them away in a moment and leave their owner exposed and without defense.
When they collapse he is brought low, stripped of any merit or power of his own. Silver and gold are powerless to rescue anyone in the day of divine judgment and turn out worthless to all who relied on them, whereas lasting safety is found only in trusting God. Joined to it stands the next saying, that a haughty heart goes before ruin and a lowly spirit before honor.
Wealth looks to the one who holds it like a fortified city and like a towering wall, yet that safety stands only in his fancy and self-conceit. It supplies no genuine strength, and earthly riches give no true shelter to the proud man who puts his confidence in them. They are fleeting, for calamity or an unlucky investment can sweep them away in a moment and leave their owner exposed and without defense.
When they collapse he is brought low, stripped of any merit or power of his own. Silver and gold are powerless to rescue anyone in the day of divine judgment and turn out worthless to all who relied on them, whereas lasting safety is found only in trusting God. Joined to it stands the next saying, that a haughty heart goes before ruin and a lowly spirit before honor.