He that giveth unto the poor shall not lack: but he that hideth his eyes shall have many a curse.
Parallel translations
- WEB One who gives to the poor has no lack; but one who closes his eyes will have many curses.
- BSB Whoever gives to the poor will not be in need, but he who hides his eyes will receive many curses.
- NKJV He who gives to the poor will not lack, But he who hides his eyes will have many curses.
- NASB One who gives to the poor will never lack anything, But one who shuts his eyes will have many curses.
- NLT Whoever gives to the poor will lack nothing, but those who close their eyes to poverty will be cursed.
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
Generosity to the poor brings no lack, but ignoring their need brings curses. It promises blessing for open-handed giving and warning for hard-heartedness.
Overview
The proverb assures that the one who gives to the poor will not lack, while the one who shuts his eyes to need incurs many curses. God honors generosity and judges callous neglect. This reflects the gospel heart of Christ, who though rich became poor for our sake, and calls His people to generous love (2 Corinthians 8:9).
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 12
- Prov 19:17He that hath pity upon the poor lendeth unto the LORD; and that which he hath given will he pay him again.
- Deut 15:7If there be among you a poor man of one of thy brethren within any of thy gates in thy land which the LORD thy God giveth thee, thou shalt not harden thine heart, nor shut thine hand from thy poor brother:
- Ps 41:1–3Blessed is he that considereth the poor: the LORD will deliver him in time of trouble.
- Prov 11:24There is that scattereth, and yet increaseth; and there is that withholdeth more than is meet, but it tendeth to poverty.
- Deut 15:10Thou shalt surely give him, and thine heart shall not be grieved when thou givest unto him: because that for this thing the LORD thy God shall bless thee in all thy works, and in all that thou puttest thine hand unto.
- 2 Cor 9:6–11But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully.
- Ps 112:5–9A good man sheweth favour, and lendeth: he will guide his affairs with discretion.
- Prov 22:9He that hath a bountiful eye shall be blessed; for he giveth of his bread to the poor.
- Prov 11:26He that withholdeth corn, the people shall curse him: but blessing shall be upon the head of him that selleth it.
- Isa 1:15And when ye spread forth your hands, I will hide mine eyes from you: yea, when ye make many prayers, I will not hear: your hands are full of blood.
- Heb 13:16But to do good and to communicate forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.
- Prov 24:24He that saith unto the wicked, Thou art righteous; him shall the people curse, nations shall abhor him:
Themes, concepts, people & topics
Resources, by level
Commentaries & study tools
Free animated overview and word-study videos for this book.
Sermons and teaching on this passage from across YouTube.
Clear, readable, conservative exposition — the best free place to start on any passage.
Matthew Henry, Barnes, Gill, the Pulpit Commentary, Ellicott, Cambridge, and more — stacked on one page for this exact verse.
The beloved Puritan exposition of this whole book — warm, devotional, and verse by verse (free, CCEL).
Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.
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 28:27 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
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.