Treat Others Fairly

27 When it is in your power,[a]
don’t withhold good(A) from the one to whom it belongs.
28 Don’t say to your neighbor, “Go away! Come back later.
I’ll give it tomorrow”—when it is there with you.(B)

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. 3:27 Lit in the power of your hands

27 Don’t withhold good from someone who deserves it,
    when it is in your power to do so.
28 Don’t say to your neighbor, “Go and come back;
    I’ll give it to you tomorrow,” when you have it.

Read full chapter

24 One person gives freely,
yet gains more;(A)
another withholds what is right,
only to become poor.(B)

25 A generous person will be enriched,(C)
and the one who gives a drink of water
will receive water.(D)

26 People will curse(E) anyone who hoards grain,
but a blessing will come to the one who sells it.(F)

Read full chapter

24 Those who give generously receive more,
    but those who are stingy with what is appropriate will grow needy.
25 Generous persons will prosper;
    those who refresh others will themselves be refreshed.
26 People curse those who hoard grain,
    but they bless those[a] who sell it.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 11:26 Or the heads of those

22 A good man leaves an inheritance to his[a] grandchildren,
but the sinner’s wealth is stored up for the righteous.(A)

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. 13:22 Or inheritance: his

22 Good people leave their grandchildren an inheritance,
    but the wealth of sinners is stored up for the righteous.

Read full chapter

21 The one who despises his neighbor sins,(A)
but whoever shows kindness to the poor will be happy.(B)

Read full chapter

21 Those who despise their neighbors are sinners,
    but happy are those who are kind to the needy.

Read full chapter

16 A person’s gift opens doors[a] for him
and brings him before the great.(A)

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. 18:16 Lit gift makes room

16 A gift opens the way
    for access to important people.

Read full chapter

17 Kindness to the poor is a loan to the Lord,(A)
and he will give a reward to the lender.[a](B)

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. 19:17 Lit to him

17 Those who are gracious to the poor lend to the Lord,
    and the Lord will fully repay them.

Read full chapter

13 The one who shuts his ears to the cry of the poor
will himself also call out and not be answered.(A)

Read full chapter

13 Those who close their ears to the cries of the poor
    will themselves call out but receive no answer.

Read full chapter

A generous person[a] will be blessed,(A)
for he shares his food with the poor.(B)

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. 22:9 Lit Good of eye

Happy are generous people,
    because they give some of their food to the poor.

Read full chapter

14 The one who boasts about a gift that does not exist
is like clouds and wind without rain.(A)

Read full chapter

14 People who brag about a gift never given
    are like clouds and wind that produce no rain.

Read full chapter

27 The one who gives to the poor
will not be in need,
but one who turns his eyes away[a]
will receive many curses.(A)

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. 28:27 Lit who shuts his eyes

27 Those who give to the poor will lack nothing,
    but those who turn a blind eye will be greatly cursed.

Read full chapter