A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches, and loving favour rather than silver and gold.
A good name and loving favour are to be chosen over great riches and wealth. That good name is to be chosen over silver and gold. It is character approved by God and people, whose honor and integrity are not measured by worldly success, and God preserves the names of the faithful as heirs to lasting, imperishable riches. Good character is lasting wealth that, unlike earthly possessions, is not lost through financial panics or failures and brings rich returns when earthly possessions are swept away.
Dishonest gain sacrifices noble character and leads toward ruin, and even repentance and restitution cannot erase the lasting scars left by a wounded conscience. Integrity, firmness, and perseverance help a person do good, resist evil, and bear adversity. The verse calls for guarding a good name and keeping it untarnished by pure conduct and careful words and behavior that give others no cause to speak evil of what is good. Sharp speech and suspicious suggestions can damage another person's reputation and influence.
If the name is attacked despite such care, the attack may arise from hatred of the purity and holiness that rebuke wrongdoing, as with Christ's character, and the blame does not rest on the one who kept it untarnished. Young people should choose companions of sound character rather than those inferior in mind and morals or with low moral standards, because those who choose debased companions tend to follow their bad example instead of preserving the good character and reputation the verse values.
A good name and loving favour are to be chosen over great riches and wealth. That good name is to be chosen over silver and gold. It is character approved by God and people, whose honor and integrity are not measured by worldly success, and God preserves the names of the faithful as heirs to lasting, imperishable riches. Good character is lasting wealth that, unlike earthly possessions, is not lost through financial panics or failures and brings rich returns when earthly possessions are swept away.
Dishonest gain sacrifices noble character and leads toward ruin, and even repentance and restitution cannot erase the lasting scars left by a wounded conscience. Integrity, firmness, and perseverance help a person do good, resist evil, and bear adversity. The verse calls for guarding a good name and keeping it untarnished by pure conduct and careful words and behavior that give others no cause to speak evil of what is good. Sharp speech and suspicious suggestions can damage another person's reputation and influence.
If the name is attacked despite such care, the attack may arise from hatred of the purity and holiness that rebuke wrongdoing, as with Christ's character, and the blame does not rest on the one who kept it untarnished. Young people should choose companions of sound character rather than those inferior in mind and morals or with low moral standards, because those who choose debased companions tend to follow their bad example instead of preserving the good character and reputation the verse values.