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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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15 The rich hide within the fortress that is their wealth,
    but the poor are dismayed due to their poverty.

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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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24 Those who give freely gain even more;
    others hold back what they owe, becoming even poorer.
25 A generous person will prosper,
    and anyone who gives water will receive a flood in return.
26 People will curse whoever withholds grain,
    but blessing will come to whoever is selling.

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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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23 The field of the poor may produce much food,
    but it can be swept away through injustice.

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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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25 The house of the proud the Lord will demolish,
    but he will protect the widow’s boundary line.

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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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Whoever mocks the poor shows contempt for their maker,
    and whoever is happy about disaster
        will not go unpunished.

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

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Wealth brings many friends,
    but a poor man is deserted by his friend.

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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

All the relatives of a poor person shun him—
    how much more do his friends avoid him!
Though he runs after them pleading,
    they aren’t around.

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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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17 Whoever is kind to the poor is lending to the Lord
    the benefit of his gift will return to him in abundance.

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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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13 Whoever refuses to hear the cry of the poor
    will also cry himself, but he won’t be answered.

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

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Whoever is generous[a] will be blessed,
    for he shares his food with the poor.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 22:9 Lit. A good eye

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

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16 Whoever oppresses the poor to enrich himself
    and whoever gives gifts to the wealthy
        will yield only loss.

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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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22 Don’t rob the poor person because he is poor,
    and don’t crush the helpless in court,[a]
23 for the Lord will plead their case
    and ruin the lives of those who ruin them.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 22:22 Lit. gate