Solomon here confirms what his father had said (Ps. xxxvii. 16), A
little that a righteous man has is better than the riches of many
wicked. 1. Perhaps a righteous man has no more than what he works hard
for; he eats only the labour of his hands, but that labour tends to
life; he aims at nothing but to get an honest livelihood, covets not to
be rich and great, but is willing to live and maintain his family. Nor
does it tend only to his own life, but he would enable himself to do
good to others; he labours that he may have to give (Eph. iv. 28); all
his business turns to some good account or other. Or it may be meant of
his labour in religion; he takes most pains in that which has a
tendency to eternal life; he sows to the Spirit, that he may reap life
everlasting. 2. Perhaps a wicked man's wealth is fruit which he did not
labour for, but came easily by, but it tends to sin. He makes it the
food and fuel of his lusts, his pride and luxury; he gets hurt with it
and not good; he gets hurt by it and is hardened by it in his wicked
ways. The things of this world are good or evil, life or death, as they
are used, and as those are that have them.