New Living Translation
Proverbs 14:20
20The poor are despised even by their neighbors, while the rich have many “friends.”
Proverbs 14:20 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)The poor is hated even of his own neighbour: but the rich hath many friends.
- New International Version (NIV)The poor are shunned even by their neighbors, but the rich have many friends.
- English Standard Version (ESV)The poor is disliked even by his neighbor, but the rich has many friends.
- New King James Version (NKJV)The poor man is hated even by his own neighbor, But the rich has many friends.
Context of Proverbs 14:20
18Simpletons are clothed with foolishness, but the prudent are crowned with knowledge. 19Evil people will bow before good people; the wicked will bow at the gates of the godly. The poor are despised even by their neighbors, while the rich have many “friends.” 21It is a sin to belittle one’s neighbor; blessed are those who help the poor. 22If you plan to do evil, you will be lost; if you plan to do good, you will receive unfailing love and faithfulness.
Read all of Proverbs 14Proverbs 14:20 word by word
גַּם־לְ֭רֵעֵהוּ יִשָּׂ֣נֵא רָ֑שׁ וְאֹהֲבֵ֖י עָשִׁ֣יר רַבִּֽים׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for Proverbs 14:20
- Proverbs 10:15The wealth of the rich is their fortress; the poverty of the poor is their destruction.
- Proverbs 19:7The relatives of the poor despise them; how much more will their friends avoid them! Though the poor plead with them, their friends are gone.
- Job 6:21You, too, have given no help. You have seen my calamity, and you are afraid.
- Job 19:13“My relatives stay far away, and my friends have turned against me.
- Job 30:10They despise me and won’t come near me, except to spit in my face.
- Proverbs 19:4Wealth makes many “friends”; poverty drives them all away.
- Esther 3:2All the king’s officials would bow down before Haman to show him respect whenever he passed by, for so the king had commanded. But Mordecai refused to bow down or show him respect.
- Esther 5:10However, he restrained himself and went on home. Then Haman gathered together his friends and Zeresh, his wife,
Commentaries on Proverbs 14:20
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 20But the rich hath many friends - Many who speak to him the language of friendship; but if they profess friendship because he is rich, there is not one real friend among them. There is a fine saying of Cicero on this subject: Ut hirundines festivo tempore praesto sunt, frigore pulsae recedunt: ita falsi amici sereno tempore praesto sunt: simul atque fortunae hiemem viderint, evolant omnes - Lib. iv., ad Herenn. "They are like swallows, who fly off during…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 20The maxim, jarring as it is, represents the generalization of a wide experience; but the words which follow Proverbs 14:21 show that it is not to be taken by itself. In spite of all the selfish morality of mere prudence, the hearer is warned that to despise his “neighbor” (Christians must take the word in all the width given to it by the parable of the Good Samaritan) is to sin. The fullness of blessing comes on him who sees in the poor the objects of his…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 20Verse 20 Friendship in the world is governed by self-interest. It is good to have God our Friend; he will not desert us.Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 20This proverb might advise moderation, suggesting having neither too little nor too much (Proverbs 30:7–9).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 2020. This sad but true picture of human nature is not given approvingly, but only as a fact.Read the comment
Topics related to Proverbs 14:20
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
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