New Living Translation
Proverbs 22:7
7Just as the rich rule the poor, so the borrower is servant to the lender.
Proverbs 22:7 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)The rich ruleth over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the lender.
- New International Version (NIV)The rich rule over the poor, and the borrower is slave to the lender.
- English Standard Version (ESV)The rich rules over the poor, and the borrower is the slave of the lender.
- New King James Version (NKJV)The rich rules over the poor, And the borrower is servant to the lender.
Context of Proverbs 22:7
5Corrupt people walk a thorny, treacherous road; whoever values life will avoid it. 6Direct your children onto the right path, and when they are older, they will not leave it. Just as the rich rule the poor, so the borrower is servant to the lender. 8Those who plant injustice will harvest disaster, and their reign of terror will come to an end. 9Blessed are those who are generous, because they feed the poor.
Read all of Proverbs 22Proverbs 22:7 word by word
עָ֭שִׁיר בְּרָשִׁ֣ים יִמְשׁ֑וֹל וְעֶ֥בֶד לֹ֝וֶ֗ה לְאִ֣ישׁ מַלְוֶֽה׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for Proverbs 22:7
- Proverbs 22:16A person who gets ahead by oppressing the poor or by showering gifts on the rich will end in poverty.
- Proverbs 14:31Those who oppress the poor insult their Maker, but helping the poor honors him.
- Proverbs 18:23The poor plead for mercy; the rich answer with insults.
- Amos 2:6This is what the Lord says: “The people of Israel have sinned again and again, and I will not let them go unpunished! They sell honorable people for silver and poor people for a pair of sandals.
- Amos 4:1Listen to me, you fat cows living in Samaria, you women who oppress the poor and crush the needy, and who are always calling to your husbands, “Bring us another drink!”
- Amos 5:11You trample the poor, stealing their grain through taxes and unfair rent. Therefore, though you build beautiful stone houses, you will never live in them. Though you plant lush vineyards, you will never drink wine from them.
- Amos 8:4Listen to this, you who rob the poor and trample down the needy!
- James 2:6But you dishonor the poor! Isn’t it the rich who oppress you and drag you into court?
- James 5:1Look here, you rich people: Weep and groan with anguish because of all the terrible troubles ahead of you.
- 2 Kings 4:1One day the widow of a member of the group of prophets came to Elisha and cried out, “My husband who served you is dead, and you know how he feared the Lord. But now a creditor has come, threatening to take my two sons as slaves.”
- Nehemiah 5:4And others said, “We have had to borrow money on our fields and vineyards to pay our taxes.
- Isaiah 24:2Priests and laypeople, servants and masters, maids and mistresses, buyers and sellers, lenders and borrowers, bankers and debtors—none will be spared.
- Matthew 18:25He couldn’t pay, so his master ordered that he be sold—along with his wife, his children, and everything he owned—to pay the debt.
Commentaries on Proverbs 22:7
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 7The rich ruieth over the poor - So it is in the order of God, and may be a blessing to both.Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 7Verse 7 This shows how important it is for every man to keep out of debt. As to the things of this life, there is a difference between the rich and the poor; but let the poor remember, it is the Lord that made the difference.Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 7This warns against borrowing. Other proverbs advise against guaranteeing others' debts (Proverbs 6:1–2; 20:16).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 77. The influence of wealth sets aside moral distinctions is implied, and, of course, disapproved (compare Pr 19:6; 21:14, &c.).Read the comment
Topics related to Proverbs 22:7
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
New Living Translation — © 1996, 2004, 2015 Tyndale House Foundation
Commentaries