He that by usury and unjust gain increaseth his substance, he shall gather it for him that will pity the poor.
Parallel translations
- WEB He who increases his wealth by excessive interest gathers it for one who has pity on the poor.
- BSB He who increases his wealth by interest and usury lays it up for one who is kind to the poor.
- NKJV One who increases his possessions by usury and extortion Gathers it for him who will pity the poor.
- NASB One who increases his wealth by interest of any kind, Collects it for one who is gracious to the poor.
- NLT Income from charging high interest rates will end up in the pocket of someone who is kind to the poor.
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
Wealth gained by exploiting others through excessive interest will pass to someone who helps the poor. It assures that ill-gotten gain does not finally prosper the unjust.
Overview
The proverb declares that money amassed through usury and oppression will ultimately be transferred to one who shows mercy to the poor, reflecting God's providential justice. Exploitation cannot secure lasting reward. This anticipates the great reversal of God's kingdom, where the merciful are blessed and the proud are brought low (Luke 1:52-53).
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 11
- Job 27:16–17Though he heap up silver as the dust, and prepare raiment as the clay;
- Prov 13:22A good man leaveth an inheritance to his children’s children: and the wealth of the sinner is laid up for the just.
- Eccl 2:26For God giveth to a man that is good in his sight wisdom, and knowledge, and joy: but to the sinner he giveth travail, to gather and to heap up, that he may give to him that is good before God. This also is vanity and vexation of spirit.
- Exod 22:25If thou lend money to any of my people that is poor by thee, thou shalt not be to him as an usurer, neither shalt thou lay upon him usury.
- Lev 25:36Take thou no usury of him, or increase: but fear thy God; that thy brother may live with thee.
- Ezek 18:17That hath taken off his hand from the poor, that hath not received usury nor increase, hath executed my judgments, hath walked in my statutes; he shall not die for the iniquity of his father, he shall surely live.
- Ezek 18:8He that hath not given forth upon usury, neither hath taken any increase, that hath withdrawn his hand from iniquity, hath executed true judgment between man and man,
- Ezek 18:13Hath given forth upon usury, and hath taken increase: shall he then live? he shall not live: he hath done all these abominations; he shall surely die; his blood shall be upon him.
- Prov 14:31He that oppresseth the poor reproacheth his Maker: but he that honoureth him hath mercy on the poor.
- Prov 19:7All the brethren of the poor do hate him: how much more do his friends go far from him? he pursueth them with words, yet they are wanting to him.
- 2 Sam 12:6And he shall restore the lamb fourfold, because he did this thing, and because he had no pity.
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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 28:8 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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