Add parallel Print Page Options

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

Read full chapter

15 (A)A rich man's wealth is his strong city;
    the poverty of the poor is their ruin.

Read full chapter

24 Some give freely yet grow all the richer;
    others withhold what is due and only suffer want.(A)
25 A generous person will be enriched,
    and one who gives water will get water.(B)
26 The people curse those who hold back grain,
    but a blessing is on the head of those who sell it.(C)

Read full chapter

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.

Read full chapter

23 The field of the poor may yield much food,
    but it is swept away through injustice.(A)

Read full chapter

23 The fallow ground of the poor would yield much food,
    but it is swept away through (A)injustice.

Read full chapter

25 The Lord tears down the house of the proud
    but maintains the widow’s boundaries.(A)

Read full chapter

25 The Lord tears down the house of (A)the proud
    but (B)maintains (C)the widow's boundaries.

Read full chapter

Those who mock the poor insult their Maker;
    those who are glad at calamity will not go unpunished.(A)

Read full chapter

Whoever mocks the poor (A)insults his Maker;
    he who is (B)glad at calamity will not go (C)unpunished.

Read full chapter

Wealth brings many friends,
    but the poor are left friendless.(A)

Read full chapter

(A)Wealth brings many new friends,
    (B)but a poor man is deserted by his friend.

Read full chapter

If the poor are hated even by their kin,
    how much more are they shunned by their friends!
When they call after them, they are not there.[a](A)

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. 19.7 Meaning of Heb uncertain

(A)All a poor man's brothers hate him;
    (B)how much more do his friends go far from him!
He pursues them with words, but does not have them.[a]

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 19:7 The meaning of the Hebrew sentence is uncertain

17 Whoever is kind to the poor lends to the Lord
    and will be repaid in full.(A)

Read full chapter

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

Read full chapter

13 If you close your ear to the cry of the poor,
    you will cry out and not be heard.(A)

Read full chapter

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

Read full chapter

Those who are generous are blessed,
    for they share their bread with the poor.(A)

Read full chapter

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

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 22:9 Hebrew good

16 Oppressing the poor in order to enrich oneself,
    and giving to the rich, will lead only to loss.

Read full chapter

16 Whoever oppresses the poor to increase his own wealth,
    or gives to the rich, (A)will only come to poverty.

Read full chapter

22 Do not rob the poor because they are poor
    or crush the afflicted at the gate,(A)
23 for the Lord pleads their cause
    and despoils of life those who despoil them.(B)

Read full chapter

22 (A)Do not rob the poor, because he is poor,
    or (B)crush the afflicted at (C)the gate,
23 for (D)the Lord will plead their cause
    and rob of life those who rob them.

Read full chapter