New English Translation
Proverbs 10:15
15The wealth of a rich person is like a fortified city, but the poor are brought to ruin by their poverty.
Proverbs 10:15 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)The rich man’s wealth is his strong city: the destruction of the poor is their poverty.
- New International Version (NIV)The wealth of the rich is their fortified city, but poverty is the ruin of the poor.
- English Standard Version (ESV)A rich man's wealth is his strong city; the poverty of the poor is their ruin.
- New King James Version (NKJV)The rich man’s wealth is his strong city; The destruction of the poor is their poverty.
Context of Proverbs 10:15
13Wisdom is found in the words of the discerning person, but the one who lacks wisdom will be disciplined. 14Those who are wise store up knowledge, but foolish speech leads to imminent destruction. The wealth of a rich person is like a fortified city, but the poor are brought to ruin by their poverty. 16The reward which the righteous receive is life; the recompense which the wicked receive is judgment. 17The one who heeds instruction is on the way to life, but the one who rejects rebuke goes astray.
Read all of Proverbs 10Proverbs 10:15 word by word
ה֣וֹן עָ֭שִׁיר קִרְיַ֣ת עֻזּ֑וֹ מְחִתַּ֖ת דַּלִּ֣ים רֵישָֽׁם׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for Proverbs 10:15
- Proverbs 18:11The wealth of a rich person is like a strong city, and it is like a high wall in his imagination.
- Job 31:24“If I have put my confidence in gold or said to pure gold, ‘You are my security!’
- Psalms 49:6They trust in their wealth and boast in their great riches.
- Psalms 52:7“Look, here is the man who would not make God his protector! He trusted in his great wealth and was confident about his plans to destroy others.”
- Ecclesiastes 7:12For wisdom provides protection, just as money provides protection. But the advantage of knowledge is this: Wisdom preserves the life of its owner.
- Jeremiah 9:23The Lord says, “Wise people should not boast that they are wise. Powerful people should not boast that they are powerful. Rich people should not boast that they are rich.
- Mark 10:24The disciples were astonished at these words. But again Jesus said to them, “Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God!
- Luke 12:19And I will say to myself, “You have plenty of goods stored up for many years; relax, eat, drink, celebrate!”’
- 1 Timothy 6:17Command those who are rich in this world’s goods not to be haughty or to set their hope on riches, which are uncertain, but on God who richly provides us with all things for our enjoyment.
- Proverbs 14:20A poor person is disliked even by his neighbors, but those who love the rich are many.
- Proverbs 19:7All the relatives of a poor person hate him; how much more do his friends avoid him – he pursues them with words, but they do not respond.
- Proverbs 22:22Do not exploit a poor person because he is poor and do not crush the needy in court,
- Micah 2:1Those who devise sinful plans are as good as dead, those who dream about doing evil as they lie in bed. As soon as morning dawns they carry out their plans, because they have the power to do so.
Commentaries on Proverbs 10:15
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 15The rich man's wealth is his strong city - Behold a mystery in providence; there is not a rich man on earth but becomes such by means of the poor! Property comes from the labor of the poor, and the king himself is served of the field. How unjust, diabolically so, is it to despise or oppress those by whose labor all property is acquired! The destruction of the poor is their poverty - A man in abject poverty never arises out of this pit. They have no…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 15Destruction - That which crushes, throws into ruins. Wealth secures its possessors against many dangers; poverty exposes men to worse evils than itself, meanness, servility, and cowardice. Below the surface there lies, it may be, a grave irony against the rich; see Proverbs 18:11.Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 15Verse 15 This refers to the common mistakes both of rich and poor, as to their outward condition. Rich people's wealth exposes them to many dangers; while a poor man may live comfortably, if he is content, keeps a good conscience, and lives by faith.Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 15While wealth can protect against problems, it can also cause them (Proverbs 13:8) and give a false sense of security (Proverbs 18:10–11).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1515. Both by trusting in "uncertain riches" (1Ti 6:17), or by the evils of poverty (Pr 30:9), men, not fearing God, fall into dangers.Read the comment
Topics related to Proverbs 10:15
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Proverbs 10
- 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
New English Translation — © 1996-2016 Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C.
Commentaries