Christian Standard Bible
Proverbs 18:23
23The poor person pleads, but the rich one answers roughly.
Proverbs 18:23 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)The poor useth intreaties; but the rich answereth roughly.
- New International Version (NIV)The poor plead for mercy, but the rich answer harshly.
- English Standard Version (ESV)The poor use entreaties, but the rich answer roughly.
- New King James Version (NKJV)The poor man uses entreaties, But the rich answers roughly.
Context of Proverbs 18:23
21Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit. 22A man who finds a wife finds a good thing and obtains favor from the Lord. The poor person pleads, but the rich one answers roughly. 24One with many friends may be harmed, but there is a friend who stays closer than a brother.
Read all of Proverbs 18Proverbs 18:23 word by word
תַּחֲנוּנִ֥ים יְדַבֶּר־רָ֑שׁ וְ֝עָשִׁ֗יר יַעֲנֶ֥ה עַזּֽוֹת׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for Proverbs 18:23
- Ruth 2:7She asked, ‘Will you let me gather fallen grain among the bundles behind the harvesters? ’ She came and has been on her feet since early morning, except that she rested a little in the shelter.”
- 1 Samuel 2:36Anyone who is left in your family will come and bow down to him for a piece of silver or a loaf of bread. He will say: Please appoint me to some priestly office so I can have a piece of bread to eat.’”
- 2 Kings 4:1One of the wives of the sons of the prophets cried out to Elisha, “Your servant, my husband, has died. You know that your servant feared the Lord. Now the creditor is coming to take my two children as his slaves.”
- Isaiah 66:2My hand made all these things, and so they all came into being. This is the Lord’s declaration. I will look favorably on this kind of person: one who is humble, submissive in spirit, and trembles at my word.
- Matthew 5:3“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for the kingdom of heaven is theirs.
- James 1:9Let the brother of humble circumstances boast in his exaltation,
- Genesis 42:7When Joseph saw his brothers, he recognized them, but he treated them like strangers and spoke harshly to them. “Where do you come from?” he asked. “From the land of Canaan to buy food,” they replied.
- Exodus 5:2But Pharaoh responded, “Who is the Lord that I should obey him by letting Israel go? I don’t know the Lord, and besides, I will not let Israel go.”
- 1 Samuel 25:10Nabal asked them, “Who is David? Who is Jesse’s son? Many slaves these days are running away from their masters.
- James 2:3if you look with favor on the one wearing the fine clothes and say, “Sit here in a good place,” and yet you say to the poor person, “Stand over there,” or “Sit here on the floor by my footstool,”
Commentaries on Proverbs 18:23
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 23Note the paradox. The poor man, of whom one might expect roughness, supplicates; the rich, well nurtured, from whom one might look for courtesy, answers harshly and brusquely.Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 23Verse 23 Poverty tells men they must not order or demand. And at the throne of God's grace we are all poor, and must use entreaties.Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 23God will punish the powerful who look down on the poor. Wise people help those in need (Proverbs 11:24; 28:27; 29:7, 14).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 2323. the rich ... roughly--He is tolerated because rich, implying that the estimate of men by wealth is wrong.Read the comment
Topics related to Proverbs 18:23
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Proverbs 18
- 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
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
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