Berean Standard Bible
Proverbs 14:21
21He who despises his neighbor sins, but blessed is he who shows kindness to the poor.
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 before the good, and the wicked at the gates of the righteous. 20The poor man is hated even by his neighbor, but many are those who love the rich. He who despises his neighbor sins, but blessed is he who shows kindness to the poor. 22Do not those who contrive evil go astray? But those who plan goodness find loving devotion and faithfulness. 23There is profit in all labor, but mere talk leads only to poverty.
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 11:12Whoever shows contempt for his neighbor lacks judgment, but a man of understanding remains silent.
- Proverbs 17:5He who mocks the poor insults their Maker; whoever gloats over calamity will not go unpunished.
- Proverbs 18:3With a wicked man comes contempt as well, and shame is accompanied by disgrace.
- Job 31:13If I have rejected the cause of my manservant or maidservant when they made a complaint against me,
- Job 35:5Look to the heavens and see; gaze at the clouds high above you.
- Psalms 22:24For He has not despised or detested the torment of the afflicted. He has not hidden His face from him, but has attended to his cry for help.
- Luke 18:9To some who trusted in their own righteousness and viewed others with contempt, He also told this parable:
- James 2:5Listen, my beloved brothers: Has not God chosen the poor of this world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom He promised those who love Him?
- Proverbs 14:31Whoever oppresses the poor taunts their Maker, but whoever is kind to the needy honors Him.
- Proverbs 11:24One gives freely, yet gains even more; another withholds what is right, only to become poor.
- Proverbs 19:17Kindness to the poor is a loan to the LORD, and He will repay the lender.
- Daniel 4:27Therefore, may my advice be pleasing to you, O king. Break away from your sins by doing what is right, and from your iniquities by showing mercy to the oppressed. Perhaps there will be an extension of your prosperity.”
- Matthew 25:34Then the King will say to those on His right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.
- Luke 6:30Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what is yours, do not demand it back.
- Acts 20:35In everything, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words of the Lord Jesus Himself: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’”
- Hebrews 6:12Then you will not be sluggish, but will imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised.
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
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