He who oppresses the poor shows contempt for his Maker, but he who is kind to the needy honors him.
Parallel translations
- KJV He that oppresseth the poor reproacheth his Maker: but he that honoureth him hath mercy on the poor.
- 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 the poor have this in common: Yahweh is the maker of them all.
- Prov 17:5Whoever mocks the poor reproaches his Maker. He who is glad at calamity shall not be unpunished.
- Prov 22:16Whoever oppresses the poor for his own increase and whoever gives to the rich, both come to poverty.
- Prov 19:17He who has pity on the poor lends to Yahweh; he will reward him.
- 1 Jn 4:21This commandment we have from him, that he who loves God should also love his brother.
- Eccl 5:8If you see the oppression of the poor, and the violent taking away of justice and righteousness in a district, don’t marvel at the matter: for one official is eyed by a higher one; and there are officials over them.
- 1 Jn 3:17–21But whoever has the world’s goods, and sees his brother in need, and closes his heart of compassion against him, how does God’s love remain in him?
- 2 Cor 8:7–9But as you abound in everything, in faith, utterance, knowledge, all earnestness, and in your love to us, see that you also abound in this grace.
- Ps 12:5“Because of the oppression of the weak and because of the groaning of the needy, I will now arise,” says Yahweh; “I will set him in safety from those who malign him.”
- Job 31:13–16“If I have despised the cause of my male servant or of my female servant, when they contended with me;
- John 12:8For you always have the poor with you, but you don’t always have me.”
- Matt 25:40–46“The King will answer them, ‘Most certainly I tell you, because you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’
- Prov 22:22–23Don’t exploit the poor, because he is poor; and don’t crush the needy in court;
- Prov 14:21He who despises his neighbor sins, but blessed is he who has pity on the poor.
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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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