Proverbs 10:15; Proverbs 11:24–26; Proverbs 13:23; Proverbs 15:25; Proverbs 17:5; Proverbs 19:4; Proverbs 19:7; Proverbs 19:17; Proverbs 21:13; Proverbs 22:9; Proverbs 22:16; Proverbs 22:22–23; Proverbs 24:11–12; Proverbs 28:3; Proverbs 28:27; Proverbs 31:8–9

15  bA rich man’s wealth is his strong city;

the poverty of the poor is their ruin.


24  jOne gives kfreely, yet grows all the richer;

another withholds what he should give, and only suffers want.

25  lWhoever brings blessing mwill be enriched,

and none who waters will himself be watered.

26  oThe people curse him who holds back grain,

but pa blessing is on the head of him who qsells it.


23  The fallow ground of the poor would yield much food,

but it is swept away through binjustice.


25  The Lord tears down the house of qthe proud

but rmaintains sthe widow’s boundaries.


Whoever mocks the poor rinsults his Maker;

he who is sglad at calamity will not go tunpunished.


fWealth brings many new friends,

fbut a poor man is deserted by his friend.


jAll a poor man’s brothers hate him;

khow much more do his friends go far from him!

He pursues them with words, but does not have them.1


17  cWhoever is generous to the poor lends to the Lord,

and he dwill repay him for his edeed.


13  qWhoever closes his ear to the cry of the poor

will himself call out and not be answered.


aWhoever has a bountiful1 eye will be blessed,

for he bshares his bread with the poor.


16  Whoever oppresses the poor to increase his own wealth,

or gives to the rich, owill only come to poverty.


22  uDo not rob the poor, because he is poor,

or vcrush the afflicted at wthe gate,

23  for xthe Lord will plead their cause

and rob of life those who rob them.


11  jRescue those who are being taken away to death;

hold back those who are stumbling to the slaughter.

12  If you say, Behold, we did not know this,

kdoes not he who lweighs the heart perceive it?

Does not he who mkeeps watch over your soul know it,

and will he not repay man naccording to his work?


fA poor man who oppresses the poor

is a beating rain that leaves no food.


27  Whoever vgives to the poor will not want,

but he who whides his eyes will get many a curse.


qOpen your mouth for the mute,

for the rights of all who are destitute.1

Open your mouth, rjudge righteously,

sdefend the rights of tthe poor and needy.