New English Translation
Proverbs 22:16
16The one who oppresses the poor to increase his own gain and the one who gives to the rich – both end up only in poverty.
Proverbs 22:16 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)He that oppresseth the poor to increase his riches, and he that giveth to the rich, shall surely come to want.
- New International Version (NIV)One who oppresses the poor to increase his wealth and one who gives gifts to the rich—both come to poverty.
- English Standard Version (ESV)Whoever oppresses the poor to increase his own wealth, or gives to the rich, will only come to poverty.
- New King James Version (NKJV)He who oppresses the poor to increase his riches, And he who gives to the rich, will surely come to poverty.
Context of Proverbs 22:16
14The mouth of an adulteress is like a deep pit; the one against whom the Lord is angry will fall into it. 15Folly is bound up in the heart of a child, but the rod of discipline will drive it far from him. The one who oppresses the poor to increase his own gain and the one who gives to the rich – both end up only in poverty. 17Incline your ear and listen to the words of the wise, and apply your heart to my instruction. 18For it is pleasing if you keep these sayings within you, and they are ready on your lips.
Read all of Proverbs 22Proverbs 22:16 word by word
עֹ֣שֵֽׁק דָּ֭ל לְהַרְבּ֣וֹת ל֑וֹ נֹתֵ֥ן לְ֝עָשִׁ֗יר אַךְ־לְמַחְסֽוֹר׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for Proverbs 22:16
- Proverbs 22:22Do not exploit a poor person because he is poor and do not crush the needy in court,
- Proverbs 14:31The one who oppresses the poor insults his Creator, but whoever shows favor to the needy honors him.
- Proverbs 28:3A poor person who oppresses the weak is like a driving rain without food.
- Job 20:19For he has oppressed the poor and abandoned them; he has seized a house which he did not build.
- Psalms 12:5“Because of the violence done to the oppressed, because of the painful cries of the needy, I will spring into action,” says the Lord. “I will provide the safety they so desperately desire.”
- Micah 2:2They confiscate the fields they desire, and seize the houses they want. They defraud people of their homes, and deprive people of the land they have inherited.
- Zechariah 7:9“The Lord who rules over all said, ‘Exercise true judgment and show brotherhood and compassion to each other.
- James 2:13For judgment is merciless for the one who has shown no mercy. But mercy triumphs over judgment.
- James 5:1Come now, you rich! Weep and cry aloud over the miseries that are coming on you.
- Luke 6:33And if you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners do the same.
- Luke 14:12He said also to the man who had invited him, “When you host a dinner or a banquet, don’t invite your friends or your brothers or your relatives or rich neighbors so you can be invited by them in return and get repaid.
- Luke 16:24So he called out, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in anguish in this fire.’
Commentaries on Proverbs 22:16
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 16He that oppresseth the poor - He who, in order to obtain the favor of the rich and great, either robs or cheats the poor, to make those men presents; or gives in presents to them, for the sake of honor and reputation, what he should have given to the poor, shall surely come to want.Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 16Better, He who oppresses the poor for his own profit gives. (i. e., will, in the common course of things, be compelled to give) to a rich man, and that only to his own loss. Ill-gotten gains do not prosper, and only expose the oppressor to extortion and violence in his turn.Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 16Verse 16 We are but stewards, and must distribute what God intrusts to our care, according to his will.Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 16A person advances through hard work, not by taking advantage of the poor or bribing the wealthy (compare Proverbs 22:29).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1616. These two vices pertain to the same selfish feeling. Both are deservedly odious to God and incur punishment.Read the comment
Topics related to Proverbs 22:16
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Proverbs 22
- 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
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