Proverbs 14:31

He that oppresseth the poor reproacheth his Maker: but he that honoureth him hath mercy on the poor. HE THAT OPPRESSETH THE POOR REPROACHETH HIS MAKER - who hath made the poor as well as the rich (; , below; ). The oppressor of the poor, whether by word or deed, persuades himself that God either will not, or cannot, vindicate the poor. BUT HE THAT HONOURETH HIM HATH MERCY ON THE POOR - i:e., he honoureth his Maker whosoever hath mercy on the poor. It is not enough merely not to oppress, we must also show positive mercy, whereby we honour the Lord, who hath commanded the poor be relieved....

Verse Proverbs 14:31. _HE THAT OPPRESSETH THE POOR REPROACHETH HIS MAKER_] Because the _poor_, or comparatively _poor_, are, in the order of God, _a part of the inhabitants of the earth_; and every man who loves God will _show mercy to the poor_, for with this God is peculiarly delighted. _The poor have we ever with us_, for the excitement and exercise of those benevolent, compassionate, and merciful feelings, without which men had been but little better than brutes....

HONOURETH HIM - i. e., God, who is the Maker of poor and rich alike....

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 OPPRESSETH THE POOR REPROACHETH HIS MAKER,.... That does him any injury, either by scoffing at him, and reproaching him for his poverty; or by vexatious law suits; or by withholding from him his wages; or not giving him that relief which he ought: such an one not only injures the poor man; but reproaches God that made him, not only a man, but a poor man; and who is the Maker of the rich man also, Proverbs 22:2; BUT HE THAT HONOURETH HIM HATH MERCY ON THE POOR; he that is desirous of honouring God, and glorifying him, will give of his substance to the poor; having compassion on him in his necessitous circumstances, will relieve him; and in so doing he honours God, whose image the poor man bears, and who has commanded him so to do. The words may be rendered, "he that hath mercy on the poor honoureth him"; that is, his Maker: so the Targum,...

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

THE POOR. a weak one. Hebrew. _dal_. See note on Proverbs 6:11. HIS MAKER. An ancient title found in the book of Job (Job 35:10), also in Proverbs 17:5. just as we speak of the "Creator". Used here because He is the Maker of the weak as well as the strong. We meet with it again in Isaiah 17:7; Isaiah 51:13; Isaiah 54:5. Not "confined to the later literature of Judaism". THE POOR. a humble one. Hebrew. _'ebyon._ See note on...

_he that honoureth_&c. Rather, HE THAT HATH MERCY ON THE NEEDY HONOURETH HIM, R.V. Comp. Proverbs 17:5; Matthew 25:40....

TEXT Proverbs 14:25-35 25. A true witness delivereth souls; But he that uttereth lies causeth deceit. 26. In the fear of Jehovah is strong confidence; And his children shall have a place of refuge. 27. The fear of Jehovah is a fountain of life, That one may depart from the snares of death. 28. In the multitude of people is the king's glory; But in the want of people is the destruction of the prince. 29. He that is slow to anger is of great understanding; But he that is hasty of spirit exalteth folly. 30. A tranquil heart is the life of the flesh; But envy is the rottenness of the bones. 31. He that oppresseth the poor reproacheth his Maker; But he that hath mercy on the needy honoreth him. 32. The wicked is thrust down in his evil-doing;...