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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 wealth of the rich is the city of his strength;
    the ruin of the poor is 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 There is one who gives yet grows richer,[a]
    but he who withholds what is right[b] only finds need.
25 A person of blessing will be enriched,
    and he who gives water also will be refreshed.
26 He who withholds grain, the people curse him,
    but a blessing is for the head of him who sells.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 11:24 Literally “adding more”
  2. Proverbs 11:24 Literally “from what is right”

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

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23 There is much food in the field of the poor,
    but it is swept away[a] by injustice.[b]

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 13:23 Literally “there is sweeping away”
  2. Proverbs 13:23 Literally “no justice”

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, Yahweh will tear it down,
    but he will maintain the property line[a] of the widow.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 15:25 Literally “boundary”

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

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He who mocks the poor insults him who made him;
    he who rejoices at calamity 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 adds many friends,
    but the poor will be left by his friends.

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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 brothers of the poor, if they hate him,
    how much more will his friends keep away from him.
    He pursues them with words, and they are gone.[a]

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 19:7 Or “when he pursues words and not them”

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

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17 He who lends to Yahweh is he who is kind to the poor,
    and his benefits he will repay to him.

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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 He who closes his ear from the cry of the poor,
    he also will cry out and not be heard.

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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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He who is generous[a] will be blessed,
    for he gives to the poor from his own bread.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 22:9 Literally “the generous of 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 He who oppresses the poor in order to enrich himself,
    or gives to the rich, will come to poverty.[a]

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 22:16 Literally “only loss”

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 Do not rob the poor because he is poor,
    and do not crush the afflicted at the gate;
23 For Yahweh will plead their case
    and despoil those who despoil them of life.[a]

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 22:23 Or “soul,” or “inner self”