He that oppresseth the poor to increase his riches, and he that giveth to the rich, shall surely come to want.
Parallel translations
- WEB Whoever oppresses the poor for his own increase and whoever gives to the rich, both come to poverty.
- BSB Oppressing the poor to enrich oneself or giving gifts to the rich will surely lead to poverty.
- NKJV He who oppresses the poor to increase his riches, And he who gives to the rich, will surely come to poverty.
- NASB One who oppresses the poor to make more for himself, Or gives to the rich, will only come to poverty.
- NLT A person who gets ahead by oppressing the poor or by showering gifts on the rich will end in poverty.
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 for gain or bribing the rich both lead to loss. It matters because exploiting and flattering for self-interest ends in poverty.
Overview
Whether crushing the poor to enrich oneself or lavishing on the already wealthy to curry favor, both selfish strategies ultimately come to ruin (Proverbs 28:8; 11:24). The verse warns that unjust and self-serving uses of wealth backfire. God's justice overturns the schemes of those who oppress the weak.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 13
- Prov 22:22–23Rob not the poor, because he is poor: neither oppress the afflicted in the gate:
- Jas 2:13For he shall have judgment without mercy, that hath shewed no mercy; and mercy rejoiceth against judgment.
- Jas 5:1–5Go to now, ye rich men, weep and howl for your miseries that shall come upon you.
- 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.
- Luke 6:33–35And if ye do good to them which do good to you, what thank have ye? for sinners also do even the same.
- Luke 14:12–14Then said he also to him that bade him, When thou makest a dinner or a supper, call not thy friends, nor thy brethren, neither thy kinsmen, nor thy rich neighbours; lest they also bid thee again, and a recompence be made thee.
- Prov 14:31He that oppresseth the poor reproacheth his Maker: but he that honoureth him hath mercy on the poor.
- Prov 28:3A poor man that oppresseth the poor is like a sweeping rain which leaveth no food.
- Job 20:19–29Because he hath oppressed and hath forsaken the poor; because he hath violently taken away an house which he builded not;
- Prov 28:22He that hasteth to be rich hath an evil eye, and considereth not that poverty shall come upon him.
- Luke 16:24And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.
- Mic 2:2–3And they covet fields, and take them by violence; and houses, and take them away: so they oppress a man and his house, even a man and his heritage.
- Zech 7:9–14Thus speaketh the LORD of hosts, saying, Execute true judgment, and shew mercy and compassions every man to his brother:
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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 22:16 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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