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15 ·Having lots of money protects the rich [L The wealth of the rich is their strong city],
but having no money ·destroys [is the ruin of] the poor.

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15 
The rich man’s wealth is his fortress;
The ruin of the poor is their poverty.(A)

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24 Some people give much but get back even more.
    Others don’t give what they should and end up poor.
25 Whoever ·gives to others will get richer [or blesses others will be refreshed];
    those who ·help [satisfy] others will themselves be ·helped [satisfied].

26 People curse those who keep all the grain,
but they bless the one who is willing to sell it.

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24 
There is the one who [generously] scatters [abroad], and yet increases all the more;
And there is the one who withholds what is justly due, but it results only in want and poverty.
25 
The generous man [is a source of blessing and] shall be prosperous and enriched,
And he who waters will himself be watered [reaping the generosity he has sown].(A)
26 
The people curse him who holds back grain [when the public needs it],
But a blessing [from God and man] is upon the head of him who sells it.

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23 A poor person’s ·field [soil] might produce plenty of food,
but ·others often steal it away [L it is unjustly swept away].

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23 
Abundant food is in the fallow (uncultivated) ground of the poor,
But [without protection] it is swept away by injustice.

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25 The Lord will ·tear down [uproot] the proud person’s house,
but he will ·protect [establish] the widow’s ·property [boundaries].

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25 
The Lord will tear down the house of the proud and arrogant (self-righteous),
But He will establish and protect the boundaries [of the land] of the [godly] widow.

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Whoever ·mistreats [ridicules; mocks] the poor insults their Maker;
whoever enjoys someone’s trouble will ·be punished [L not go unpunished].

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Whoever mocks the poor taunts his Maker,
And he who rejoices at [another’s] disaster will not go unpunished.(A)

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Wealthy people are always finding more friends,
but the poor lose all theirs.

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Wealth makes many friends,
But a poor man is separated from his friend.(A)

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Poor people’s relatives ·avoid [L hate] them;
    ·even [L how much more do] their friends stay far away.
They run after them, begging,
    but they are gone.

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All the brothers of a poor man hate him;
How much more do his friends abandon him!
He pursues them with words, but they are gone.

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17 Being ·kind [gracious; generous] to the poor is like lending to the Lord;
he will ·reward you for what you have done [fully repay you].

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17 
He who is gracious and lends a hand to the poor lends to the Lord,
And the Lord will repay him for his good deed.(A)

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13 Whoever ·ignores [L closes their ears to] the poor when they cry for help
will also ·cry for help [call out] and not be answered.

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13 
Whoever shuts his ears at the cry of the poor
Will cry out himself and not be answered.(A)

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Generous people ·will be blessed [or he will bless],
because they share their food with the poor.

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He who is generous will be blessed,
For he gives some of his food to the poor.(A)

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16 Whoever gets rich by ·mistreating [oppressing] the poor,
and gives presents to the wealthy, will become poor.

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16 
He who oppresses or exploits the poor to get more for himself
Or who gives to the rich [to gain influence and favor], will only come to poverty.

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22 Do not ·abuse [L steal from] poor people because they are poor,
    and do not ·take away the rights of [oppress] the needy in ·court [L the gate].
23 The Lord will ·defend them in court [accuse their accusers]
    and will ·take the life of those who take away their rights [L press/squeeze the life out of those who press/squeeze them; Ex. 22:21–23; 23:6; Deut. 24:14–15].

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22 
Do not rob the poor because he is poor [and defenseless],
Nor crush the afflicted [by legal proceedings] at the gate [where the city court is held],(A)
23 
For the Lord will plead their case
And take the life of those who rob them.(B)

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