New Living Translation
Proverbs 14:21
21It is a sin to belittle one’s neighbor; blessed are those who help the poor.
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 King James Version (NKJV)He who despises his neighbor sins; But he who has mercy on the poor, happy is he.
Context of Proverbs 14:21
19Evil people will bow before good people; the wicked will bow at the gates of the godly. 20The poor are despised even by their neighbors, while the rich have many “friends.” It 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. 23Work brings profit, but mere talk leads 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 11:12It is foolish to belittle one’s neighbor; a sensible person keeps quiet.
- Proverbs 17:5Those who mock the poor insult their Maker; those who rejoice at the misfortune of others will be punished.
- Proverbs 18:3Doing wrong leads to disgrace, and scandalous behavior brings contempt.
- Job 31:13“If I have been unfair to my male or female servants when they brought their complaints to me,
- Job 35:5Look up into the sky, and see the clouds high above you.
- Psalms 22:24For he has not ignored or belittled the suffering of the needy. He has not turned his back on them, but has listened to their cries for help.
- Luke 18:9Then Jesus told this story to some who had great confidence in their own righteousness and scorned everyone else:
- James 2:5Listen to me, dear brothers and sisters. Hasn’t God chosen the poor in this world to be rich in faith? Aren’t they the ones who will inherit the Kingdom he promised to those who love him?
- Proverbs 14:31Those who oppress the poor insult their Maker, but helping the poor honors him.
- Proverbs 11:24Give freely and become more wealthy; be stingy and lose everything.
- Proverbs 19:17If you help the poor, you are lending to the Lord— and he will repay you!
- Daniel 4:27“‘King Nebuchadnezzar, please accept my advice. Stop sinning and do what is right. Break from your wicked past and be merciful to the poor. Perhaps then you will continue to prosper.’
- Matthew 25:34“Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the creation of the world.
- Luke 6:30Give to anyone who asks; and when things are taken away from you, don’t try to get them back.
- Acts 20:35And I have been a constant example of how you can help those in need by working hard. You should remember the words of the Lord Jesus: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’”
- Hebrews 6:12Then you will not become spiritually dull and indifferent. Instead, you will follow the example of those who are going to inherit God’s promises because of their faith and endurance.
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
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