Proverbs 28:22 - Exposition

He that hasteth to be rich bath an evil eye (see Proverbs 28:20 ); better, the man of evil eye hasteth after riches . The man of evil eye ( Proverbs 23:6 ) is the envious and covetous man; such a one tries to improve his position and raise himself speedily to the height of him whom he envies, and is quite unscrupulous as to the means which he uses to effect his purpose, and keeps all that he gains selfishly to himself. And yet he is really blind to his own best interests (comp Proverbs 20:21 ). And considereth not that poverty shall come upon him (comp. Proverbs 23:4 , Proverbs 23:5 ). His grasping greed brings no blessing with it ( Proverbs 11:25 ), excites others to defraud him, and in the end consigns him to merited poverty. The LXX . here reads somewhat differently, and translates, "An envious man hasteth to be rich, and knows not that the merciful man ( chasid instead of cheser ) will I,ave the mastery over him," i . e . will take his wealth, as Proverbs 28:8 . Proverbs concerning hastily gotten wealth have already been given. Here are a few more: Spanish, "Who would be rich in a year gets hanged in half a year;" Italian, "The river does not become swollen with clear water;" says a Scotch proverb, "Better a wee fire to warm as than a meikle fire to burn us."