Amplified Bible
Proverbs 22:16
16He who oppresses or exploits the poor to get more for himself Or who gives to the rich [to gain influence and favor], will only come to poverty.
Proverbs 22:16 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)He that oppresseth the poor to increase his riches, and he that giveth to the rich, shall surely come to want.
- New International Version (NIV)One who oppresses the poor to increase his wealth and one who gives gifts to the rich—both come to poverty.
- English Standard Version (ESV)Whoever oppresses the poor to increase his own wealth, or gives to the rich, will only come to poverty.
- New King James Version (NKJV)He who oppresses the poor to increase his riches, And he who gives to the rich, will surely come to poverty.
Context of Proverbs 22:16
14The mouth of an immoral woman is a deep pit [deep and inescapable]; He who is cursed by the Lord [because of his adulterous sin] will fall into it. 15Foolishness is bound up in the heart of a child; The rod of discipline [correction administered with godly wisdom and lovingkindness] will remove it far from him. He who oppresses or exploits the poor to get more for himself Or who gives to the rich [to gain influence and favor], will only come to poverty. 17Listen carefully and hear the words of the wise, And apply your mind to my knowledge; 18For it will be pleasant if you keep them in mind [incorporating them as guiding principles]; Let them be ready on your lips [to guide and strengthen yourself and others].
Read all of Proverbs 22Proverbs 22:16 word by word
עֹ֣שֵֽׁק דָּ֭ל לְהַרְבּ֣וֹת ל֑וֹ נֹתֵ֥ן לְ֝עָשִׁ֗יר אַךְ־לְמַחְסֽוֹר׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for Proverbs 22:16
- Proverbs 22:22Do not rob the poor because he is poor [and defenseless], Nor crush the afflicted [by legal proceedings] at the gate [where the city court is held],
- Proverbs 14:31He who oppresses the poor taunts and insults his Maker, But he who is kind and merciful and gracious to the needy honors Him.
- Proverbs 28:3A poor man who oppresses and exploits the lowly Is like a sweeping rain which leaves no food.
- Job 20:19For he has oppressed and neglected the poor; He has violently taken away houses which he did not build.
- Psalms 12:5“Because of the devastation of the afflicted, because of the groaning of the needy, Now I will arise,” says the Lord; “I will place him in the safety for which he longs.”
- Micah 2:2They covet fields and seize them, And houses, and take them away. They oppress and rob a man and his house, A man and his inheritance.
- Zechariah 7:9“Thus has the Lord of hosts said, ‘Dispense true justice and practice kindness and compassion, to each other;
- James 2:13For judgment will be merciless to one who has shown no mercy; but [to the one who has shown mercy] mercy triumphs [victoriously] over judgment.
- James 5:1Come [quickly] now, you rich [who lack true faith and hoard and misuse your resources], weep and howl over the miseries [the woes, the judgments] that are coming upon you.
- Luke 6:33If you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same.
- Luke 14:12Jesus also went on to say to the one who had invited Him, “When you give a luncheon or a dinner, do not invite your friends or your brothers or your relatives or wealthy neighbors, otherwise they may also invite you in return and that will be your repayment.
- Luke 16:24And he cried out, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus so that he may dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in severe agony in this flame.’
Commentaries on Proverbs 22:16
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 16He that oppresseth the poor - He who, in order to obtain the favor of the rich and great, either robs or cheats the poor, to make those men presents; or gives in presents to them, for the sake of honor and reputation, what he should have given to the poor, shall surely come to want.Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 16Better, He who oppresses the poor for his own profit gives. (i. e., will, in the common course of things, be compelled to give) to a rich man, and that only to his own loss. Ill-gotten gains do not prosper, and only expose the oppressor to extortion and violence in his turn.Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 16Verse 16 We are but stewards, and must distribute what God intrusts to our care, according to his will.Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 16A person advances through hard work, not by taking advantage of the poor or bribing the wealthy (compare Proverbs 22:29).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1616. These two vices pertain to the same selfish feeling. Both are deservedly odious to God and incur punishment.Read the comment
Topics related to Proverbs 22:16
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Proverbs 22
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Rashi on Tanakh
- Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
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