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 those who love it will eat its fruit. 22He who finds a wife finds a good thing And obtains favor from the Lord. A poor person utters pleadings, But a rich person answers defiantly. 24A person of too many friends comes to ruin, But there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.

Proverbs 18:23 word by word

תַּחֲנוּנִ֥ים יְדַבֶּר־רָ֑שׁ וְ֝עָשִׁ֗יר יַעֲנֶ֥ה עַזּֽוֹת׃Read the interlinear

• poorרוּשׁrûsh · be poorH7326
• uttersדָבַרdâbar · to speak: speakH1696
• pleadingsתַּחֲנוּןtachănûn tachănûnâh · supplicationH8469
• richעָשִׁיר‛âshîyr · richH6223
• answersעָנָה‛ânâh · to answerH6030
• defiantlyעַז‛az · strongH5794

Cross-references for Proverbs 18:23

• Ruth 2:7And she said, ‘Please let me glean and gather after the reapers among the sheaves.’ So she came and has remained from the morning until now; she has been sitting in the house for a little while.”
• 1 Samuel 2:36And everyone who is left in your house will come to bow down to him for a silver coin or a loaf of bread and say, “Please assign me to one of the priest’s offices so that I may eat a piece of bread.”’”
• 2 Kings 4:1Now a woman of the wives of the sons of the prophets cried out to Elisha, saying, “Your servant my husband is dead, and you know that your servant feared the Lord; and the creditor has come to take my two children to be his slaves.”
• Isaiah 66:2For My hand made all these things, So all these things came into being,” declares the Lord. “But I will look to this one, At one who is humble and contrite in spirit, and who trembles at My word.
• Matthew 5:3“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
• James 1:9Now the brother or sister of humble circumstances is to glory in his high position;
• Genesis 42:7When Joseph saw his brothers, he recognized them, but he disguised himself to them and spoke to them harshly. He said to them, “Where have you come from?” And they said, “From the land of Canaan, to buy food.”
• Exodus 5:2But Pharaoh said, “Who is the Lord that I should obey His voice to let Israel go? I do not know the Lord, and besides, I will not let Israel go.”
• 1 Samuel 25:10But Nabal answered David’s servants and said, “Who is David? And who is the son of Jesse? There are many servants today who are each breaking away from his master.
• James 2:3and you pay special attention to the one who is wearing the bright clothes, and say, “You sit here in a good place,” and you say to the poor man, “You stand over there, or sit down 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

• 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