Christian Standard Bible
Proverbs 22:16
16Oppressing the poor to enrich oneself, and giving to the rich — both lead only 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 the forbidden woman is a deep pit; a man cursed by the Lord will fall into it. 15Foolishness is bound to the heart of a youth; a rod of discipline will separate it from him. Oppressing the poor to enrich oneself, and giving to the rich — both lead only to poverty. 17Listen closely, pay attention to the words of the wise, and apply your mind to my knowledge. 18For it is pleasing if you keep them within you and if they are constantly on your lips.
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 22:22Don’t rob a poor person because he is poor, and don’t crush the oppressed at the city gate,
- Proverbs 14:31The one who oppresses the poor person insults his Maker, but one who is kind to the needy honors him.
- Proverbs 28:3A destitute leader who oppresses the poor is like a driving rain that leaves no food.
- Job 20:19For he oppressed and abandoned the poor; he seized a house he did not build.
- Psalms 12:5“Because of the devastation of the needy and the groaning of the poor, I will now rise up,” says the Lord. “I will provide safety for the one who longs for it.”
- Micah 2:2They covet fields and seize them; they also take houses. They deprive a man of his home, a person of his inheritance.
- Zechariah 7:9“The Lord of Armies says this: ‘Make fair decisions. Show faithful love and compassion to one another.
- James 2:13For judgment is without mercy to the one who has not shown mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment.
- James 5:1Come now, you rich people, weep and wail over the miseries that are coming on you.
- Luke 6:33If you do what is good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners do that.
- Luke 14:12He also said to the one who had invited him, “When you give a lunch or a dinner, don’t invite your friends, your brothers or sisters, your relatives, or your rich neighbors, because they might invite you back, and you would be repaid.
- Luke 16:24‘Father Abraham! ’ he called out, ‘Have mercy on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in 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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