He that oppresseth the poor reproacheth his Maker: but he that honoureth him hath mercy on the poor.
Parallel translations
- WEB He who oppresses the poor shows contempt for his Maker, but he who is kind to the needy honors him.
- BSB Whoever oppresses the poor taunts their Maker, but whoever is kind to the needy honors Him.
- ESV Whoever oppresses a poor man insults his Maker, but he who is generous to the needy honors him.
- NKJV He who oppresses the poor reproaches his Maker, But he who honors Him has mercy on the needy.
- NASB One who oppresses the poor taunts his Maker, But one who is gracious to the needy honors Him.
- NLT Those who oppress the poor insult their Maker, but helping the poor honors him.
Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Oppressing the poor insults their Maker, but kindness to the needy honors Him. How we treat the poor reflects how we regard God.
Overview
Because every person bears God's image, oppressing the poor is an affront to the Creator, while showing them kindness honors Him. The proverb grounds social ethics in the doctrine of creation. Jesus takes this further, identifying with the needy so that kindness shown to them is shown to Him (Matthew 25:40).
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 14
- Prov 22:2The rich and poor meet together: the LORD is the maker of them all.
- Prov 17:5Whoso mocketh the poor reproacheth his Maker: and he that is glad at calamities shall not be unpunished.
- Prov 22:16He that oppresseth the poor to increase his riches, and he that giveth to the rich, shall surely come to want.
- Prov 19:17He that hath pity upon the poor lendeth unto the LORD; and that which he hath given will he pay him again.
- 1 Jn 4:21And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also.
- Eccl 5:8If thou seest the oppression of the poor, and violent perverting of judgment and justice in a province, marvel not at the matter: for he that is higher than the highest regardeth; and there be higher than they.
- 1 Jn 3:17–21But whoso hath this world’s good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?
- 2 Cor 8:7–9Therefore, as ye abound in every thing, in faith, and utterance, and knowledge, and in all diligence, and in your love to us, see that ye abound in this grace also.
- Ps 12:5For the oppression of the poor, for the sighing of the needy, now will I arise, saith the LORD; I will set him in safety from him that puffeth at him.
- Job 31:13–16If I did despise the cause of my manservant or of my maidservant, when they contended with me;
- John 12:8For the poor always ye have with you; but me ye have not always.
- Matt 25:40–46And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.
- Prov 22:22–23Rob not the poor, because he is poor: neither oppress the afflicted in the gate:
- Prov 14:21He that despiseth his neighbour sinneth: but he that hath mercy on the poor, happy is he.
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Christ at the center
Wisdom personified, with God before creation and the agent of all things, anticipates Christ 'in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom' — the wisdom of God made flesh.
How Proverbs 14:31 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
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