God’s Word Translation
Proverbs 14:31
31Whoever oppresses the poor insults his maker, but whoever is kind to the needy honors him.
Proverbs 14:31 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)He that oppresseth the poor reproacheth his Maker: but he that honoureth him hath mercy on the poor.
- New International Version (NIV)Whoever oppresses the poor shows contempt for their Maker, but whoever is kind to the needy honors God.
- English Standard Version (ESV)Whoever oppresses a poor man insults his Maker, but he who is generous to the needy honors him.
- New King James Version (NKJV)He who oppresses the poor reproaches his Maker, But he who honors Him has mercy on the needy.
Context of Proverbs 14:31
29A person of great understanding is patient, but a short temper is the height of stupidity. 30A tranquil heart makes for a healthy body, but jealousy is ⌞like⌟ bone cancer. Whoever oppresses the poor insults his maker, but whoever is kind to the needy honors him. 32A wicked person is thrown down by his own wrongdoing, but even in his death a righteous person has a refuge. 33Wisdom finds rest in the heart of an understanding person. Even fools recognize this.
Read all of Proverbs 14Proverbs 14:31 word by word
עֹ֣שֵֽׁק־דָּ֭ל חֵרֵ֣ף עֹשֵׂ֑הוּ וּ֝מְכַבְּד֗וֹ חֹנֵ֥ן אֶבְיֽוֹן׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for Proverbs 14:31
- Proverbs 17:5Whoever makes fun of a poor person insults his maker. Whoever is happy ⌞to see someone’s⌟ distress will not escape punishment.
- Proverbs 22:2The rich and the poor have this in common: the Lord is the maker of them all.
- Job 31:13“If I have abused the rights of my servants, male or female, when they have disagreed with me,
- Psalms 12:5“Because oppressed people are robbed and needy people groan, I will now arise,” says the Lord. “I will provide safety for those who long for it.”
- Ecclesiastes 5:8Don’t be surprised if you see poor people being oppressed, denied justice, or denied their rights in any district. One authority is watching over another, and they both have authorities watching over them.
- Matthew 25:40“The king will answer them, ‘I can guarantee this truth: Whatever you did for one of my brothers or sisters, no matter how unimportant ⌞they seemed⌟, you did for me.’
- Proverbs 14:21Whoever despises his neighbor sins, but blessed is the one who is kind to humble people.
- Proverbs 19:17Whoever has pity on the poor lends to the Lord, and he will repay him for his good deed.
- John 12:8You will always have the poor with you, but you will not always have me with you.”
- 2 Corinthians 8:7Indeed, the more your faith, your ability to speak, your knowledge, your dedication, and your love for us increase, the more we want you to participate in this work of God’s kindness.
- 1 John 3:17Now, suppose a person has enough to live on and notices another believer in need. How can God’s love be in that person if he doesn’t bother to help the other believer?
- 1 John 4:21Christ has given us this commandment: The person who loves God must also love other believers.
Commentaries on Proverbs 14:31
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 31He that oppresseth the poor reproacheth his Maker - Because the poor, or comparatively poor, are, in the order of God, a part of the inhabitants of the earth; and every man who loves God will show mercy to the poor, for with this God is peculiarly delighted. The poor have we ever with us, for the excitement and exercise of those benevolent, compassionate, and merciful feelings, without which men had been but little better than brutes.Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 31Honoureth him - i. e., God, who is the Maker of poor and rich alike.Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 31Verse 31 To oppress the poor is to reproach our Creator.Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 31Wise people help the poor (compare Proverbs 11:24–26; 28:27; see Leviticus 19:9–10; Deuteronomy 15:11; 24:10–15; Isaiah 3:14–15; Jeremiah 2:34; see also James 2:1–13). taunts their Maker: See also Proverbs 17:5.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 3131. reproacheth his Maker--who is the God of such, as well as of the rich (Pr 22:2; Job 31:15; and specially 1Sa 2:8; Psa 113:7).Read the comment
Topics related to Proverbs 14:31
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
God’s Word Translation — © 1995 God’s Word to the Nations Bible Society
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