27 (A)Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due,[a]
    when it is in your power to do it.

28 (B)Do not say to your neighbor, “Go, and come again,
    tomorrow I will give it”—when you have it with you.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 3:27 Hebrew Do not withhold good from its owners

Wisdom in Action

27 Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due,
    when it is in your power to act.
28 Do not say to your neighbor,
    “Go, and come back.
        I will pay you[a] tomorrow,”
when you have cash[b] with you.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 3:28 Lit. it
  2. Proverbs 3:28 The Heb. lacks cash

24 (A)One gives (B)freely, yet grows all the richer;
    another withholds what he should give, and only suffers want.
25 (C)Whoever brings blessing (D)will be enriched,
    and (E)one who waters will himself be watered.
26 (F)The people curse him who holds back grain,
    but (G)a blessing is on the head of him who (H)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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22 (A)A good man leaves an inheritance to his children's children,
    but (B)the sinner's wealth is laid up for the righteous.

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22 A good person leaves an inheritance to his grandchildren,
    but the wealth of the wicked is reserved for the righteous.

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21 Whoever (A)despises his neighbor is a sinner,
    but (B)blessed is he who is generous to the poor.

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21 Whoever despises his neighbor sins,
    but whoever shows kindness to the poor will be happy.

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16 A man's (A)gift makes room for him
    and brings him before the great.

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16 A person’s gift opens doors for him,
    bringing him access to important people.

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17 (A)Whoever is generous to the poor lends to the Lord,
    and he (B)will repay him for his (C)deed.

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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 (A)Whoever closes his ear to the cry of the poor
    will himself call out and not be answered.

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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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(A)Whoever has a bountiful[a] eye will be blessed,
    for he (B)shares his bread with the poor.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 22:9 Hebrew good

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

14 Like (A)clouds and wind without rain
    is a man who (B)boasts of a gift he does not give.

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14 Like clouds and winds without rain
    is the man who brags
        about gifts he never gave.

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27 Whoever (A)gives to the poor will not want,
    but he who (B)hides his eyes will get many a curse.

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27 Whoever gives to the poor will never lack,
    but whoever shuts his eyes to their poverty[a] will be cursed.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 28:27 The Heb. lacks to their poverty