New King James Version
Proverbs 14:21
21He who despises his neighbor sins; But he who has mercy on the poor, happy is he.
Proverbs 14:21 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)He that despiseth his neighbour sinneth: but he that hath mercy on the poor, happy is he.
- New International Version (NIV)It is a sin to despise one’s neighbor, but blessed is the one who is kind to the needy.
- English Standard Version (ESV)Whoever despises his neighbor is a sinner, but blessed is he who is generous to the poor.
- New Living Translation (NLT)It is a sin to belittle one’s neighbor; blessed are those who help the poor.
Context of Proverbs 14:21
19The evil will bow before the good, And the wicked at the gates of the righteous. 20The poor man is hated even by his own neighbor, But the rich has many friends. He who despises his neighbor sins; But he who has mercy on the poor, happy is he. 22Do they not go astray who devise evil? But mercy and truth belong to those who devise good. 23In all labor there is profit, But idle chatter leads only to poverty.
Read all of Proverbs 14Proverbs 14:21 word by word
בָּז־לְרֵעֵ֥הוּ חוֹטֵ֑א וּמְחוֹנֵ֖ן עֲנָוִ֣ים אַשְׁרָֽיו׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for Proverbs 14:21
- Proverbs 11:12He who is devoid of wisdom despises his neighbor, But a man of understanding holds his peace.
- Proverbs 17:5He who mocks the poor reproaches his Maker; He who is glad at calamity will not go unpunished.
- Proverbs 18:3When the wicked comes, contempt comes also; And with dishonor comes reproach.
- Job 31:13“If I have despised the cause of my male or female servant When they complained against me,
- Job 35:5Look to the heavens and see; And behold the clouds— They are higher than you.
- Psalms 22:24For He has not despised nor abhorred the affliction of the afflicted; Nor has He hidden His face from Him; But when He cried to Him, He heard.
- Luke 18:9Also He spoke this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others:
- James 2:5Listen, my beloved brethren: Has God not chosen the poor of this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom which He promised to those who love Him?
- Proverbs 14:31He who oppresses the poor reproaches his Maker, But he who honors Him has mercy on the needy.
- Proverbs 11:24There is one who scatters, yet increases more; And there is one who withholds more than is right, But it leads to poverty.
- Proverbs 19:17He who has pity on the poor lends to the Lord, And He will pay back what he has given.
- Daniel 4:27Therefore, O king, let my advice be acceptable to you; break off your sins by being righteous, and your iniquities by showing mercy to the poor. Perhaps there may be a lengthening of your prosperity.”
- Matthew 25:34Then the King will say to those on His right hand, ‘Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:
- Luke 6:30Give to everyone who asks of you. And from him who takes away your goods do not ask them back.
- Acts 20:35I have shown you in every way, by laboring like this, that you must support the weak. And remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ ”
- Hebrews 6:12that you do not become sluggish, but imitate those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.
Commentaries on Proverbs 14:21
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 21He that despiseth his neighbor sinneth - To despise a man because he has some natural blemish is unjust, cruel, and wicked. He is not the author of his own imperfections; they did not occur through his fault or folly; and if he could, he would not retain them. It is, therefore, unjust and wicked to despise him for what is not his fault, but his misfortune. But he that hath mercy on the poor - Who reproaches no man for his poverty or scanty intellect, but…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 21Verse 21 To despise a man for his employment or appearance is a sin.Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 21blessed is he who shows kindness to the poor: See also Proverbs 3:27–28; 11:24; 28:27; 29:7, 14.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 2121. For such contempt of the poor is contrasted as sinful with the virtuous compassion of the good.Read the comment
Topics related to Proverbs 14:21
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
New King James Version — © 1982 Thomas Nelson, Inc
Commentaries