Verse 42 and 43 return to the theme of verses 28-30. The contrast is made between the learned and the wealthy and those who will become humble and therefore receive of the happiness of the Lord.
Once again, in the context of this admonitory sermon, Jacob's emphasis on learning and wealth suggest that these are things which are beginning to cause problems for the Nephite people. As a fairly new community, it would be unusual for such a small group to become either wealthy or recognizably wise (particularly in popular wisdom rather than godly wisdom). Thus the best explanation for Jacob's emphasis is again the new situation in a world already having established modes of wealth and learning, to which at least some of the new community aspire.