15 The wealth of the rich is their fortified city,(A)
    but poverty is the ruin of the poor.(B)

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15 The wealth of the rich is their fortress;
    the poverty of the poor is their ruin.(A)

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24 One person gives freely, yet gains even more;
    another withholds unduly, but comes to poverty.

25 A generous(A) person will prosper;
    whoever refreshes others will be refreshed.(B)

26 People curse the one who hoards grain,
    but they pray God’s blessing on the one who is willing to sell.

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24 Some give freely yet grow all the richer;
    others withhold what is due and only suffer want.(A)
25 A generous person will be enriched,
    and one who gives water will get water.(B)
26 The people curse those who hold back grain,
    but a blessing is on the head of those who sell it.(C)

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23 An unplowed field produces food for the poor,
    but injustice sweeps it away.

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23 The field of the poor may yield much food,
    but it is swept away through injustice.(A)

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25 The Lord tears down the house of the proud,(A)
    but he sets the widow’s boundary stones in place.(B)

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25 The Lord tears down the house of the proud
    but maintains the widow’s boundaries.(A)

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Whoever mocks the poor(A) shows contempt for their Maker;(B)
    whoever gloats over disaster(C) will not go unpunished.(D)

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Those who mock the poor insult their Maker;
    those who are glad at calamity will not go unpunished.(A)

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Wealth attracts many friends,
    but even the closest friend of the poor person deserts them.(A)

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Wealth brings many friends,
    but the poor are left friendless.(A)

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The poor are shunned by all their relatives—
    how much more do their friends avoid them!(A)
Though the poor pursue them with pleading,
    they are nowhere to be found.[a](B)

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 19:7 The meaning of the Hebrew for this sentence is uncertain.

If the poor are hated even by their kin,
    how much more are they shunned by their friends!
When they call after them, they are not there.[a](A)

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Footnotes

  1. 19.7 Meaning of Heb uncertain

17 Whoever is kind to the poor lends to the Lord,(A)
    and he will reward them for what they have done.(B)

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17 Whoever is kind to the poor lends to the Lord
    and will be repaid in full.(A)

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13 Whoever shuts their ears to the cry of the poor
    will also cry out(A) and not be answered.(B)

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13 If you close your ear to the cry of the poor,
    you will cry out and not be heard.(A)

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The generous will themselves be blessed,(A)
    for they share their food with the poor.(B)

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Those who are generous are blessed,
    for they share their bread with the poor.(A)

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16 One who oppresses the poor to increase his wealth
    and one who gives gifts to the rich—both come to poverty.

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16 Oppressing the poor in order to enrich oneself,
    and giving to the rich, will lead only to loss.

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Saying 2

22 Do not exploit the poor(A) because they are poor
    and do not crush the needy in court,(B)
23 for the Lord will take up their case(C)
    and will exact life for life.(D)

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22 Do not rob the poor because they are poor
    or crush the afflicted at the gate,(A)
23 for the Lord pleads their cause
    and despoils of life those who despoil them.(B)

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