He who gives to the poor will not lack, But he who hides his eyes will have many curses.
Parallel translations
- WEB One who gives to the poor has no lack; but one who closes his eyes will have many curses.
- KJV He that giveth unto the poor shall not lack: but he that hideth his eyes shall have many a curse.
- BSB Whoever gives to the poor will not be in need, but he who hides his eyes will receive 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 who has pity on the poor lends to Yahweh; he will reward him.
- Deut 15:7If a poor man, one of your brothers, is with you within any of your gates in your land which Yahweh your God gives you, you shall not harden your heart, nor shut your hand from your poor brother;
- Ps 41:1–3For the Chief Musician. A Psalm by David. Blessed is he who considers the poor. Yahweh will deliver him in the day of evil.
- Prov 11:24There is one who scatters, and increases yet more. There is one who withholds more than is appropriate, but gains poverty.
- Deut 15:10You shall surely give, and your heart shall not be grieved when you give to him; because that for this thing Yahweh your God will bless you in all your work, and in all that you put your hand to.
- 2 Cor 9:6–11Remember this: he who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly. He who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.
- Ps 112:5–9It is well with the man who deals graciously and lends. He will maintain his cause in judgment.
- Prov 22:9He who has a generous eye will be blessed; for he shares his food with the poor.
- Prov 11:26People curse someone who withholds grain, but blessing will be on the head of him who sells it.
- Isa 1:15When you spread out your hands, I will hide my eyes from you. Yes, when you make many prayers, I will not hear. Your hands are full of blood.
- Heb 13:16But don’t forget to be doing good and sharing, for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.
- Prov 24:24He who says to the wicked, “You are righteous”; peoples will curse him, and nations will abhor him —
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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 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
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