Passage Resources Hebrew/Greek Your Content
Previous Next
Add parallel Print Page Options Listen to Proverbs 19:4, Proverbs 19:6-7, Proverbs 22:2, Proverbs 22:7, Proverbs 23:4-5, Proverbs 27:7, Proverbs 28:6, Proverbs 28:8, Proverbs 28:11, Proverbs 28:20-22
Close NASB

Proverbs 19:4
New American Standard Bible

4 (A)Wealth adds many friends,
But a poor person is separated from his friend.

Read full chapter
Close NET

Proverbs 19:4
New English Translation

4 Wealth adds many friends,
but a poor person is separated[a] from his friend.[b]

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 19:4 tn The Niphal imperfect probably should be taken in the passive sense (the poor person is deserted by his “friend,” cf. NAB, NIV) rather than as a direct middle (the poor person deserted his friend).
  2. Proverbs 19:4 sn This proverb simply makes an observation on life: People pursue wealthy folk hoping that they can gain something from the rich, but the poor are deserted even by friends, who fear that the poor will try to gain something from them.
Next
Proverbs 18
Proverbs 20
Next
Previous Next
Close NASB

Proverbs 19:6-7
New American Standard Bible

6 (A)Many will seek the favor of a [a]generous person,
And every person is a friend to (B)him who gives gifts.
7 All the brothers of a poor person hate him;
How much more do his (C)friends abandon him!
He (D)pursues them with words, but they are [b]gone.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 19:6 Or noble
  2. Proverbs 19:7 Lit not
Close NET

Proverbs 19:6-7
New English Translation

6 Many people entreat the favor[a] of a generous person,[b]
and everyone is the friend[c] of the person who gives gifts.[d]
7 All the relatives[e] of a poor person hate him;[f]
how much more do his friends avoid[g] him—
one who chases words, which are nothing.[h]

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 19:6 tn The verb יְחַלּוּ (yekhallu) is a Piel imperfect of חָלָה (khalah) meaning “to seek favor; to entreat favor; to mollify; to appease”; cf. NIV “curry favor.” It literally means “making the face of someone sweet or pleasant,” as in stroking the face. To “entreat the favor” of someone is to induce him to show favor; the action aims at receiving gifts, benefits, or any other kind of success. sn The Hebrew verb translated “entreat the favor” is often used to express prayer when God is the one whose favor is being sought; here it is the prince who can grant requests.
  2. Proverbs 19:6 tn Heb “the face of a generous man”; ASV “the liberal man.” The term “face” is a synecdoche of part (= face) for the whole (= person).
  3. Proverbs 19:6 sn The proverb acknowledges the fact of life, but it also reminds people of the value of gifts in life, especially in business or in politics.
  4. Proverbs 19:6 tn Heb “a man of gifts.” This could be (1) attributive genitive: a man characterized by giving gifts or (2) objective genitive: a man who gives gifts (IBHS 146 §9.5.2b).
  5. Proverbs 19:7 tn Heb “brothers,” but not limited only to male siblings in this context.
  6. Proverbs 19:7 tn Heb “hate him.” The verb שָׂנֵא (saneʾ) may be nuanced “reject” here (metonymy of effect, cf. CEV). The kind of “dislike” or “hatred” family members show to a poor relative is to have nothing to do with him (NIV “is shunned”). If relatives do this, how much more will the poor person’s friends do so.
  7. Proverbs 19:7 tn Heb “his friends are far from him.”
  8. Proverbs 19:7 tc The section titled “proverbs of Solomon” (10:1-22:16) has 375 proverbs. 374 are two-line proverbs, while this three-line proverb has a difficult and awkward third line. The LXX has three two-line proverbs where this one verse is in the Hebrew text. The second proverb in the Greek text is separate and self contained; the third has some correlation to the stray third line in the Hebrew Masoretic text. Assuming the LXX points to an original two-line Hebrew proverb, Delitzsch proposed two Hebrew texts possibly lying behind the Greek. The reconstructed text would begin with “the friend of many is repaid with harm” and end with either (1) “the one who pursues words [=rumors] will not escape” or (2) “chasing words which are not [=nothing]” (Delitzsch, Proverbs I, 15; Proverbs II, 25). The first option best reflects the Greek, while the second option reflects the existing Hebrew. Besides the issue raised by the LXX, the Hebrew itself differs in tradition, with the Kethib reading the final two words as “they are not” (לֹא הֵמָּה; loʾ hemmah) and the Qere reading “they are his” (לוֹ הֵמָּה; lo hemmah). Unless other manuscript evidence comes to light, the text cannot be recovered with certainty.tn Different solutions have been proposed for the problematic last line of the verse. One perspective is that his attempts at friendship result only in empty words (words which are not). Another that he pursues words (spoken by family and friends) but only the words belong to him (they are his). Another supplies missing (but implied?) elements, “he pursues [them with] words, but they [do] not [respond].” Since they are far off, he has to look for them “with words” (adverbial accusative), that is, “send word” for help. But they “are nowhere to be found” (so NIV). The basic idea is of his family and friends rejecting the poor person, revealing how superficial they are, and making themselves scarce.
Next
Proverbs 18
Proverbs 20
Next
Previous Next
Close NASB

Proverbs 22:2
New American Standard Bible

2 The rich and the poor [a]have a common bond,
The Lord is the (A)Maker of them all.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 22:2 Lit meet together
Close NET

Proverbs 22:2
New English Translation

2 The rich and the poor are met together;[a]
the Lord is the Creator of them both.[b]

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 22:2 tn The form of the verb is the Niphal perfect of פָּגַשׁ (pagash). The perfect verb form can be understood as perfective “have met together” but the Niphal may focus on the result “are met together.” Having different economic status does not affect that they are met together (cf. NAB, NASB “have a common bond,” NIV, NLV “have this in common”) in having the same Maker. Some commentators have taken this to mean that they should live together because they are part of God’s creation, but the verb form will not sustain that meaning.
  2. Proverbs 22:2 tn Heb “all of them.” The proverb may be emphasizing that everyone has the same creator regardless of their financial status, or be pointing out that God is the one who makes rich or poor. Either way it advises treating all people with respect, and not thinking too much, or too little, of oneself.
Next
Proverbs 21
Proverbs 23
Next
Previous Next
Close NASB

Proverbs 22:7
New American Standard Bible

7 The (A)rich rules over the poor,
And the borrower becomes the lender’s slave.

Read full chapter
Close NET

Proverbs 22:7
New English Translation

7 The rich rule over[a] the poor,
and the borrower is servant[b] to the lender.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 22:7 sn The proverb is making an observation on life. The synonymous parallelism matches “rule over” with “servant” to show how poverty makes people dependent on, or obligated to, others.
  2. Proverbs 22:7 tn Or “slave” (so NAB, NASB, NRSV, TEV, CEV). This may refer to the practice in Israel of people selling themselves into slavery to pay off debts (Exod 21:2-7).
Next
Proverbs 21
Proverbs 23
Next
Previous Next
Close NASB

Proverbs 23:4-5
New American Standard Bible

4 (A)Do not weary yourself to gain wealth;
[a](B)Stop dwelling on it.
5 [b]When you set your eyes on it, it is gone.
For (C)wealth certainly makes itself wings
Like an eagle that flies toward the heavens.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 23:4 Lit Refrain from your understanding of it
  2. Proverbs 23:5 Lit Will your eyes fly upon it and it is not?
Close NET

Proverbs 23:4-5
New English Translation

4 Do not wear yourself out to become rich;
be wise enough to restrain yourself.[a]
5 When you gaze upon riches,[b] they are gone,
for they surely make wings for themselves,
and fly off into the sky like an eagle![c]

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 23:4 tn Heb “from your understanding cease.” In the context this means that the person should have enough understanding to stop wearing himself out trying to be rich (cf. NRSV “be wise enough to desist”).
  2. Proverbs 23:5 tc The Kethib is הֲתָעוּף (hataʿuf), “do your eyes fly [light] on it?” The Qere is the Hiphil, הֲתָעִיף (hataʿif) “do you cause your eyes to fly on it?” But the line is difficult. The question may be indirect: If you cast your eyes on it, it is gone—when you think you are close, it slips away.tn The term “riches” is not in the Hebrew text, but is supplied in the translation based on the previous verse.
  3. Proverbs 23:5 sn This seventh saying warns people not to expend all their energy trying to get rich because riches are fleeting (cf. Instruction of Amememope, chap. 7, 9:10-11 which says, “they have made themselves wings like geese and have flown away to heaven”). In the ancient world the symbol of birds flying away signified fleeting wealth.
Next
Proverbs 22
Proverbs 24
Next
Previous Next
Close NASB

Proverbs 27:7
New American Standard Bible

7 A satisfied [a]person [b]despises honey,
But to a hungry [c]person any bitter thing is sweet.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 27:7 Lit soul
  2. Proverbs 27:7 Lit tramples on
  3. Proverbs 27:7 Lit soul
Close NET

Proverbs 27:7
New English Translation

7 The one whose appetite[a] is satisfied loathes honey,
but to the hungry mouth[b] every bitter thing is sweet.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 27:7 tn Traditionally, “soul” (so KJV, ASV). The Hebrew text uses נֶפֶשׁ (nefesh) here for the subject—the full appetite [“soul”]. The word refers to the whole person with all his appetites. Here its primary reference is to eating, but it has a wider application than that—possession, experience, education, and the like.
  2. Proverbs 27:7 tn Here the term נֶפֶשׁ (nefesh, traditionally, “soul”) is used again, now in contrast to describe the “hungry appetite” (cf. NRSV “ravenous appetite”), although “hungry mouth” might be more idiomatic for the idea. Those whose needs are great are more appreciative of things than those who are satisfied. The needy will be delighted even with bitter things.
Next
Proverbs 26
Proverbs 28
Next
Previous Next
Close NASB

Proverbs 28:6
New American Standard Bible

6 (A)Better is a poor person who walks in his integrity,
Than a person who is [a]crooked, though he is rich.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 28:6 Lit perverse of two ways
Close NET

Proverbs 28:6
New English Translation

6 A poor person[a] who walks in his integrity is better
than one who is perverse in his ways[b] even though[c] he is rich.[d]

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 28:6 sn This chapter gives a lot of attention to the contrast between the poor and the rich, assuming an integrity for the poor that is not present with the rich; the subject is addressed in vv. 6, 8, 11, 20, 22, 25, and 27 (G. A. Chutter, “Riches and Poverty in the Book of Proverbs,” Crux 18 [1982]: 23-28).
  2. Proverbs 28:6 tn The Hebrew term translated “ways” is in the dual, suggesting that the person has double ways, i.e., he is hypocritical. C. H. Toy does not like this idea and changes the form to the plural (Proverbs [ICC], 497), but his emendation is gratuitous and should be rejected.
  3. Proverbs 28:6 tn Heb “and he is rich.” Many English versions treat this as a concessive clause (cf. KJV “though he be rich”).
  4. Proverbs 28:6 sn This is another “better” saying, contrasting a poor person who has integrity with a rich person who is perverse. Of course there are rich people with integrity and perverse poor people, but that is not of interest here. If it came to the choices described here, honest poverty is better than corrupt wealth.
Next
Proverbs 27
Proverbs 29
Next
Previous Next
Close NASB

Proverbs 28:8
New American Standard Bible

8 One who increases his wealth by [a](A)interest of any kind,
Collects it (B)for one who is gracious to the poor.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 28:8 Possibly interest on money and food loans
Close NET

Proverbs 28:8
New English Translation

8 The one who increases his wealth by increasing interest[a]
gathers it for someone who is gracious[b] to the needy.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 28:8 tn Heb “by interest and increase” (so ASV; NASB “by interest and usury”; NAB “by interest and overcharge.” The two words seem to be synonyms; they probably form a nominal hendiadys, meaning “by increasing [exorbitant] interest.” The law prohibited making a commission or charging interest (Exod 22:25; Lev 25:36-37; Deut 23:20; Ps 15:5). If the poor needed help, the rich were to help them—but not charge them interest.
  2. Proverbs 28:8 tn The term חוֹנֵן (khonen, “someone who shows favor”) is the active participle. sn The verse is saying that in God’s justice wealth amassed unjustly will eventually go to the poor. God will take the wealth away from them and give it to people who will distribute it better to the poor.
Next
Proverbs 27
Proverbs 29
Next
Previous Next
Close NASB

Proverbs 28:11
New American Standard Bible

11 The rich person is (A)wise in his own eyes,
But the poor who has understanding [a]sees through him.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 28:11 Lit examines him
Close NET

Proverbs 28:11
New English Translation

11 A rich person[a] is wise in his own opinion,[b]
but a discerning poor person can evaluate him properly.[c]

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 28:11 tn Heb “a rich man,” although the context does not indicate that this is limited only to males.
  2. Proverbs 28:11 sn The idiom “in his own eyes” means “in his own opinion,” that is, his self conceit. The rich person thinks he is wise because he is rich, that he has made all the right choices.
  3. Proverbs 28:11 tn The form יַחְקְרֶנּוּ (yakhqerennu) means “he searches him” (cf. KJV, ASV) or “he examines him”; a potential imperfect nuance fits well here to indicate that a discerning person, even though poor, can search the flaws of the rich and see through the pretension and the false assumptions (cf. NAB, NASB, NIV “sees through him”). Several commentators have connected the word to the Arabic root hqr, which means “despise” (D. W. Thomas, “Notes on Some Passages in the Book of Proverbs,” JTS 38 [1937]: 400-403), but that would be both predictable and flat.
Next
Proverbs 27
Proverbs 29
Next
Previous Next
Close NASB

Proverbs 28:20-22
New American Standard Bible

20 A (A)faithful person will abound with blessings,
But one who (B)hurries to be rich will not go unpunished.
21 To [a](C)show partiality is not good,
(D)Because for a piece of bread a man will do wrong.
22 A person with an (E)evil eye (F)hurries after wealth
And does not know that poverty will come upon him.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 28:21 Lit regard the face
Close NET

Proverbs 28:20-22
New English Translation

20 A faithful person[a] will have an abundance of blessings,
but the one who hastens[b] to gain riches will not go unpunished.
21 To show partiality[c] is terrible,[d]
for a person will transgress over the smallest piece of bread.[e]
22 The stingy person[f] hastens after riches
and does not know that poverty will overtake him.[g]

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 28:20 tn Heb “a man of faithfulness,” although the context does not indicate this should be limited only to males.sn The text does not qualify the nature of the faithfulness. While this would certainly have implications for the person’s righteous acts, its primary meaning may be his diligence and reliability in his work. His faithful work will bring the returns.
  2. Proverbs 28:20 sn The proverb is not rebuking diligent labor. One who is eager to get rich quickly is the opposite of the faithful person. The first person is faithful to God and to the covenant community; the second is trying to get rich as quickly as possible, at the least without doing an honest day’s work and at the worst dishonestly. In a hurry to gain wealth, he falls into various schemes and will pay for it. Tg. Prov 28:20 interprets this to say he hastens through deceit and wrongdoing.
  3. Proverbs 28:21 tn The construction uses the Hiphil infinitive הַכֵּר (hakken) as the subject of the sentence: “to have respect for [or, recognize] persons is not good” (e.g., 24:23; 18:5; Deut 1:17; Lev 19:15). Such favoritism is “not good”; instead, it is a miscarriage of justice and is to be avoided.
  4. Proverbs 28:21 tn Heb “not good.” This is a figure of speech known as tapeinosis—a deliberate understatement to emphasize a worst-case scenario: “it is terrible!”
  5. Proverbs 28:21 tn The meaning and connection of the line is not readily clear. It could be taken in one of two ways: (1) a person can steal even a small piece of bread if hungry, and so the court should show some compassion, or it should show no partiality even in such a pathetic case; (2) a person could be bribed for a very small price (a small piece of bread being the figure representing this). This second view harmonizes best with the law.
  6. Proverbs 28:22 tn Heb “a man with an evil eye” (as opposed to the generous man who has a “good” eye). This individual is selfish, unkind, unsympathetic to others. He looks only to his own gain. Cf. NAB “The avaricious man”; NLT “A greedy person.”
  7. Proverbs 28:22 sn The one who is hasty to gain wealth is involved in sin in some way, for which he will be punished by poverty. The idea of “hastening” after riches suggests a dishonest approach to acquiring wealth.
Next
Proverbs 27
Proverbs 29
Next
dropdown
New American Standard Bible (NASB)

New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. All rights reserved.

New American Standard Bible is made available by The Lockman Foundation
New English Translation (NET)

NET Bible® copyright ©1996-2017 by Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C. http://netbible.com All rights reserved.