Proverbs — Chapter 19

Melior est pauper qui ambulat in simplicitate sua, quam dives torquens labia sua et insipiens

Better is a poor man who walks in his integrity than one who is perverse in his lips and is a fool. Lapide: Poverty with integrity is better than wealth with dishonesty and foolishness. \"Ambulat in simplicitate\" = walks in moral simplicity and directness — the honest poor man who does not deceive, does not pretend, does not manipulate. \"Dives torquens labia\" = the rich man who twists his lips (i.e., speaks dishonestly, equivocates, lies for advantage). The rich fool who gains his wealth by deceit is spiritually poorer than the honest pauper.

Foeneratur Domino qui miseretur pauperis, et vicissitudinem suam reddet ei

He who is gracious to the poor lends to the Lord, and He will repay him for his good deed. Lapide: This verse is one of the great foundations of the theology of almsgiving. To give to the poor is to lend to God Himself — God personally takes responsibility for the debt and pledges repayment. \"Vicissitudinem suam reddet\" = He will repay — not perhaps in kind but certainly, and with superabundant interest (Mt. 25:35-40: \"As you did it to one of the least of these my brethren, you did it to me\"). Lapide: This divine guarantee transforms almsgiving from a work of mere human benevolence into an act of theological faith and hope.