Proverbs 18:23

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 they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof. 22Whoso hath found a wife hath found a good thing, and hath obtained favour from Jehovah. He that is poor speaketh with supplications, but the rich answereth roughly. 24A man of [many] friends will come to ruin but there is a friend [that] sticketh closer than a brother.

Proverbs 18:23 word by word

תַּחֲנוּנִ֥ים יְדַבֶּר־רָ֑שׁ וְ֝עָשִׁ֗יר יַעֲנֶ֥ה עַזּֽוֹת׃Read the interlinear

• poorרוּשׁrûsh · be poorH7326
• supplicationsתַּחֲנוּןtachănûn tachănûnâh · supplicationH8469
• richעָשִׁיר‛âshîyr · richH6223

Cross-references for Proverbs 18:23

• Ruth 2:7and she said, I pray you, let me glean and gather among the sheaves after the reapers. And she came, and has continued from the morning until now: her sitting in the house has been little as yet.
• 1 Samuel 2:36And it shall come to pass [that] every one that is left of thy house shall come to crouch to him for a small piece of silver and for a cake of bread, and shall say, Put me, I pray thee, into one of the priestly offices, that I may eat a morsel of bread.
• 2 Kings 4:1And a woman of the wives of the sons of the prophets cried to Elisha saying, Thy servant my husband is dead, and thou knowest that thy servant feared Jehovah; and the creditor is come to take my two children to be bondmen.
• Isaiah 66:2Even all these things hath my hand made, and all these things have been, saith Jehovah. But to this man will I look: to the afflicted and contrite in spirit, and who trembleth at my word.
• Matthew 5:3Blessed [are] the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of the heavens.
• James 1:9But let the brother of low degree glory in his elevation,
• Genesis 42:7And Joseph saw his brethren, and knew them; but he made himself strange to them, and spoke roughly to them, and said to them, Whence come ye? And they said, From the land of Canaan, to buy food.
• Exodus 5:2And Pharaoh said, Who is Jehovah, to whose voice I am to hearken to let Israel go? I do not know Jehovah, neither will I let Israel go.
• 1 Samuel 25:10And Nabal answered David's servants and said, Who is David? and who is the son of Jesse? there are many servants now-a-days that break away every man from his master.
• James 2:3and ye look upon him who wears the splendid apparel, and say, Do thou sit here well, and say to the poor, Do thou stand there, or sit here under 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

• Poor
• Rich, the
• Speaking

In the dictionaries

• Brother
• Contention
• Innermost
• Offend
• Slothful
• Snare
• Stick
• Waster
• Poverty
• Proverb

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