Proverbs 14:21

He that despiseth his neighbour sinneth: but he that hath mercy on the poor, happy is he. HE THAT DESPISETH HIS NEIGHBOUR SINNETH - grievously. Whatever his neighbour may be, sick, ignoble, ignorant, he must not be despised; nay, 'mercy' is to be shown to him. BUT HE THAT HATH MERCY ON THE POOR, HAPPY (IS) HE. The poor are a prey to injury, because they dare not resist. "Mercy" is the opposite of 'despising' the afflicted poor....

Verse Proverbs 14:21. _HE 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 divides his bread with the hungry-_happy is he_; the blessing of God, and of them that were ready to perish, shall come upon _him_....

EXPOSITION PROVERBS 14:1 EVERY WISE WOMAN BUILDETH HER HOUSE. Wise women order well their household matters and their families; they have an important influence, and exercise it beneficially. Γυναικὸς ἐσθλῆς ἐστὶ σώζειν οἰκίαν_._ "A good wife is the saving of a house." The versions render as above. A different pointing of the word translated "wise" (_chakhmoth_)_ _will give "wisdom" (_chokhmoth_)_, _which it seems best to read here, as the parallel to the abstract term "folly" in the second member. So we have, "Wisdom hath builded her house" (Proverbs 9:1; comp. Proverbs 1:20). Thus: "The wi

HE THAT DESPISETH HIS NEIGHBOUR SINNETH,.... He that despiseth his neighbour in his heart, speaks slightly of him, overlooks him, is not friendly to him, will neither converse with him, nor relieve him in his necessity; for it seems to be understood of his poor neighbour; and so the Septuagint and Arabic versions render it, "he that despiseth the poor"; that despises him for his poverty; because of his pedigree and education, and the low circumstances he is in; or on account of his weakness and incapacity, or any outward circumstance that attends him; such an one sins very greatly, is guilty of a heinous sin; and he will be reckoned and dealt with as a sinner, and be condemned and punished, and so be unhappy and miserable; BUT HE THAT HATH MERCY ON THE POOR, HAPPY [IS] HE; or, "that gives to the poor,'' as the Targum; who has compassion on him in his distress, and shows it by relievin...

CHAPTER 14 THE WISE AND THE FOOLISH: THE RICH AND THE POOR The contrast now concerns the wise and the foolish, the rich and the poor. Let us see some of these contrasts. “In the mouth of the foolish is a rod of pride, but the lips of the wise shall preserve them” Proverbs 14:3. The foolish shoots forth his foolishness like a branch. Separation from the foolish man is commanded in the seventh verse. The wise cannot have fellowship with the foolish, as the believer is not to be yoked to the unbeliever. Fools make a mock at sin Proverbs 14:9). The word “sin” in the original means “trespass offering.” That is exactly what the foolish man does, including the religious fool; he denies both sin and the blessed provision God has made to deliver from the guilt and power of sin. But among the righteous, says

PROVERBS 14. In this, as in each of the preceding Chapter s in this section, aphorisms on the moral government of the world come first in number. There are rather more in this chapter of a political and social character, while a group that might be called psychological appears for the first time (_e.g._ Proverbs 14:10; Proverbs 14:13, and in part Proverbs 14:30). The contrast between wisdom and folly, simplicity and prudence, also yields a fairly numerous group. PROVERBS 14:1. MT cannot be translated. Proverbs 14:1 a is p

SINNETH. Hebrew. _chata_ HATH MERCY ON. is gracious to. THE POOR. an afflicted one. Hebrew. _'anah._ See note on Proverbs 6:11. HAPPY. See note on Proverbs 3:13....

TEXT Proverbs 14:13-24 13. Even in laughter the heart is sorrowful; And the end of mirth is heaviness. 14. The backslider in heart shall be filled with his own ways; And a good man shall be satisfied from himself. 15. The simple believeth every word; But the prudent man looketh well to his going. 16. A wise man feareth, and departeth from evil; But the fool beareth himself insolently, and is confident. 17. He that is soon angry will deal foolishly; And a man of wicked devices is hated. 18. The simple inherit folly; But the prudent are crowned with knowledge. 19. The evil bow down before the good; And the wicked, at the gates of the righteous. 20. The poor is hated even of his own neighbor; But the rich hath many friends. 21....

14:21 afflicted, (k-14) Or 'meek.'...

1. The prosperity of the family depends on the wife (Proverbs 31:10)....