American Standard Version
Proverbs 14:21
21He that despiseth his neighbor sinneth;But he that hath pity on the poor, happy is he.
Proverbs 14:21 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)He that despiseth his neighbour sinneth: but he that hath mercy on the poor, happy is he.
- New International Version (NIV)It is a sin to despise one’s neighbor, but blessed is the one who is kind to the needy.
- English Standard Version (ESV)Whoever despises his neighbor is a sinner, but blessed is he who is generous to the poor.
- New King James Version (NKJV)He who despises his neighbor sins; But he who has mercy on the poor, happy is he.
Context of Proverbs 14:21
19The evil bow down before the good; And the wicked, at the gates of the righteous. 20The poor is hated even of his own neighbor; But the rich hath many friends. He that despiseth his neighbor sinneth; But he that hath pity on the poor, happy is he. 22Do they not err that devise evil? But mercy and truth shall be to them that devise good. 23In all labor there is profit; But the talk of the lipstendethonly to penury.
Read all of Proverbs 14Proverbs 14:21 word by word
בָּז־לְרֵעֵ֥הוּ חוֹטֵ֑א וּמְחוֹנֵ֖ן עֲנָוִ֣ים אַשְׁרָֽיו׃Read the interlinear
Cross-references for Proverbs 14:21
- Proverbs 11:12He that despiseth his neighbor is void of wisdom; But a man of understanding holdeth his peace.
- Proverbs 17:5Whoso mocketh the poor reproacheth his Maker; Andhe that is glad at calamity shall not be unpunished.
- Proverbs 18:3When the wicked cometh, there cometh also contempt, And with ignominy cometh reproach.
- Job 31:13If I have despised the cause of my man-servant or of my maid-servant, When they contended with me;
- Job 35:5Look unto the heavens, and see; And behold the skies, which are higher than thou.
- Psalms 22:24For he hath not despised nor abhorred the affliction of the afflicted; Neither hath he hid his face from him; But when he cried unto him, he heard.
- Luke 18:9And he spake also this parable unto certain who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and set all others at nought:
- James 2:5Hearken, my beloved brethren; did not God choose them that are poor as to the world to be rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he promised to them that love him?
- Proverbs 14:31He that oppresseth the poor reproacheth his Maker; But he that hath mercy on the needy honoreth him.
- Proverbs 11:24There is that scattereth, and increaseth yet more; And there is that withholdeth more than is meet, but it tendeth only to want.
- Proverbs 19:17He that hath pity upon the poor lendeth unto Jehovah, And his good deed will he pay him again.
- Daniel 4:27Wherefore, O king, let my counsel be acceptable unto thee, and break off thy sins by righteousness, and thine iniquities by showing mercy to the poor; if there may be a lengthening of thy tranquillity.
- Matthew 25:34Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:
- Luke 6:30Give to every one that asketh thee; and of him that taketh away thy goods ask them not again.
- Acts 20:35In all things I gave you an example, that so laboring ye ought to help the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that he himself said, It is more blessed to give than to receive.
- Hebrews 6:12that ye be not sluggish, but imitators of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises.
Commentaries on Proverbs 14:21
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 21He that despiseth his neighbor sinneth - To despise a man because he has some natural blemish is unjust, cruel, and wicked. He is not the author of his own imperfections; they did not occur through his fault or folly; and if he could, he would not retain them. It is, therefore, unjust and wicked to despise him for what is not his fault, but his misfortune. But he that hath mercy on the poor - Who reproaches no man for his poverty or scanty intellect, but…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 21Verse 21 To despise a man for his employment or appearance is a sin.Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 21blessed is he who shows kindness to the poor: See also Proverbs 3:27–28; 11:24; 28:27; 29:7, 14.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 2121. For such contempt of the poor is contrasted as sinful with the virtuous compassion of the good.Read the comment
Topics related to Proverbs 14:21
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Proverbs 14
- 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
- Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
American Standard Version — 1901 — Public Domain
Commentaries