New English Translation
Proverbs 18:23
23A poor person makes supplications, but a rich man answers harshly.
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 its use will eat its fruit. 22The one who finds a wife finds what is enjoyable, and receives a pleasurable gift from the Lord. A poor person makes supplications, but a rich man answers harshly. 24A person who has friends may be harmed by them, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.
Read all of Proverbs 18Proverbs 18:23 word by word
תַּחֲנוּנִ֥ים יְדַבֶּר־רָ֑שׁ וְ֝עָשִׁ֗יר יַעֲנֶ֥ה עַזּֽוֹת׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for Proverbs 18:23
- Ruth 2:7She asked, ‘May I follow the harvesters and gather grain among the bundles?’ Since she arrived she has been working hard from this morning until now – except for sitting in the resting hut a short time.”
- 1 Samuel 2:36Everyone who remains in your house will come to bow before him for a little money and for a scrap of bread. Each will say, ‘Assign me to a priestly task so I can eat a scrap of bread.’”
- 2 Kings 4:1Now a wife of one of the prophets appealed to Elisha for help, saying, “Your servant, my husband is dead. You know that your servant was a loyal follower of the Lord. Now the creditor is coming to take away my two boys to be his servants.”
- Isaiah 66:2My hand made them; that is how they came to be,” says the Lord. I show special favor to the humble and contrite, who respect what I have to say.
- Matthew 5:3“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to them.
- James 1:9Now the believer of humble means should take pride in his high position.
- Genesis 42:7When Joseph saw his brothers, he recognized them, but he pretended to be a stranger to them and spoke to them harshly. He asked, “Where do you come from?” They answered, “From the land of Canaan, to buy grain for food.”
- Exodus 5:2But Pharaoh said, “Who is the Lord that I should obey him by releasing Israel? I do not know the Lord, and I will not release Israel!”
- 1 Samuel 25:10But Nabal responded to David’s servants, “Who is David, and who is this son of Jesse? This is a time when many servants are breaking away from their masters!
- James 2:3do you pay attention to the one who is finely dressed and say, “You sit here in a good place,” and to the poor person, “You stand over there,” or “Sit on the floor”?
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
In the dictionaries
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
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