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15 The rich man’s wealth is his strong city.
    The destruction of the poor is their poverty.

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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 There is one who scatters, and increases yet more.
    There is one who withholds more than is appropriate, but gains poverty.
25 The liberal soul shall be made fat.
    He who waters shall be watered also himself.
26 People curse someone who withholds grain,
    but blessing will be on the head of him who sells it.

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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 An abundance of food is in poor people’s fields,
    but injustice sweeps it away.

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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 Yahweh will uproot the house of the proud,
    but he will keep the widow’s borders intact.

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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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Whoever mocks the poor reproaches his Maker.
    He who is glad at calamity shall not be unpunished.

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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 adds many friends,
    but the poor is separated from his friend.

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

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All the relatives of the poor shun him:
    how much more do his friends avoid him!
    He pursues them with pleas, but they are gone.

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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 He who has pity on the poor lends to Yahweh;
    he will reward him.

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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 Whoever stops his ears at the cry of the poor,
    he will also cry out, but shall not be heard.

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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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He who has a generous eye will be blessed;
    for he shares his food with the poor.

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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 Whoever oppresses the poor for his own increase and whoever gives to the rich,
    both come to poverty.

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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 Don’t exploit the poor, because he is poor;
    and don’t crush the needy in court;
23 for Yahweh will plead their case,
    and plunder the life of those who plunder them.

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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