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Genesis 17:7,8
And I will establish my covenant between me and thee and thy seed after thee in their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be a God unto thee, and to thy seed after thee…

Psalm 25:12,13
What manis he that feareth the LORD? him shall he teach in the waythat he shall choose…

Psalm 102:28
The children of thy servants shall continue, and their seed shall be established before thee.

the wealth

Proverbs 28:8
He that by usury and unjust gain increaseth his substance, he shall gather it for him that will pity the poor.

Job 27:16,17
Though he heap up silver as the dust, and prepare raiment as the clay; …

Ecclesiastes 2:26
ForGod giveth to a man thatis good in his sight wisdom, and knowledge, and joy: but to the sinner he giveth travail, to gather and to heap up, that he may give tohim that is good before God. This alsois vanity and vexation of spirit.

but the sinner’s wealth is passed to the righteous
This part of the verse highlights the transient nature of wealth gained through unrighteous means. In the biblical context, wealth accumulated by sinners is often depicted as unstable and temporary. This is echoed inEcclesiastes 2:26, where it is stated that God gives wisdom, knowledge, and happiness to those who please Him, but to the sinner, He gives the task of gathering and storing up wealth to hand it over to the one who pleases God. The transfer of wealth from the wicked to the righteous can be seen as a form of divine justice, where God ensures that ultimately, resources are used for His purposes. This concept is also reflected in the story of the Israelites taking the spoils of Egypt during the Exodus, where the wealth of the oppressors was given to God's people. Theologically, this can be seen as a type of Christ, who, though He was rich, became poor for our sake, so that through His poverty, we might become rich (2 Corinthians 8:9), symbolizing the ultimate transfer of spiritual wealth from the unrighteous to the righteous.

Proverbs 13:22 opens, “A good man…” The word “good” points to moral integrity and covenant faithfulness—whatPsalm 112:5-6 describes: “Good will come to the man who is gracious and lends freely… the righteous will be remembered forever”. Scripture equates goodness with righteousness (Proverbs 12:2) and highlights:

• Character over mere achievement (Proverbs 22:1).

• A lifestyle that aligns with God’s commands (Psalm 1:1-3).

This is the kind of person God calls us to be—honest, generous, and walking in obedience, knowing “the path of the righteous is like the first light of dawn” (Proverbs 4:18).

The verse continues, “leaves an inheritance…” In biblical thinking, inheritance is both material and spiritual. Consider:

• Provision: “Children should not have to save up for their parents, but parents for their children” (2 Corinthians 12:14).

• Stewardship: “Honor the LORD with your wealth” (Proverbs 3:9). Wise management today blesses tomorrow.

• Legacy of faith:Deuteronomy 6:6-7 urges parents to teach God’s Word diligently; that teaching itself is treasure.

An inheritance is planned, purposeful, and rooted in love, showing that wealth is a tool for generational blessing, not self-indulgence.

The goal stretches two generations forward.Psalm 145:4 affirms, “One generation shall declare Your works to the next.” Practical implications:

• Think long-term—saving, discipling, mentoring beyond your immediate heirs.

• Model integrity so grandchildren reap a reputation of trust (Proverbs 20:7).

• Cultivate family stories of God’s faithfulness, passing down spiritual memories alongside assets (Joshua 4:6-7).

The verse pictures a family tree shaded by one man’s faithfulness, demonstrating that godliness outlives the godly.

Now the contrast: “but the sinner’s wealth…” Sinners may accumulate, yet their gain is unstable.Ecclesiastes 2:26 explains that the sinner “gathers and stores up, to hand it over to the one who pleases God.” Other echoes:

•Job 27:16-17—silver piled up “but the righteous will wear it.”

•Proverbs 28:8—usury-gained riches “will end up in the hands of the poor.”

Ill-gotten wealth carries built-in decay; it cannot secure the future because it defies God’s moral order.

God sovereignly redirects resources: “the sinner’s wealth is passed to the righteous.” This transfer may occur through:

• Providential shifts—business changes, inheritances, or societal re-ordering (Esther 8:1-2).

• Crisis moments—Joseph stewarded Egypt’s abundance for covenant purposes (Genesis 41:56-57).

• Final judgment—eternal reward where only righteous investments endure (Matthew 6:19-20).

The principle encourages believers: remain steadfast; God can channel provision your way at the right time and for His glory.

Proverbs 13:22 teaches that a life of righteousness produces a multigenerational blessing, both materially and spiritually. The godly man plans beyond himself, while the sinner’s apparent success proves temporary. Faithful stewardship, integrity, and a forward-looking love for descendants align us with God’s design, positioning us—and those who follow us—to receive enduring inheritance from His hand.

"De male quaesitis non gaudet tertius haeres."

"Ill-gotten wealth no third descendant holds." This has often been the fate of property obtained by the sacrilegious seizure of what was dedicated to God's service. For the general view of the clause, comp.Proverbs 28:8;Job 27:16, 17;Ecclesiastes 2:26; and the case of Jacob (Genesis 31:9), and the Israelites (Exodus 12:35, 36), when "the righteous spoiled the ungodly" (Wisd. 10:20).

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