Proverbs 22:16

He that oppresseth the poor to increase his riches, and he that giveth to the rich, shall surely come to want. HE THAT OPPRESSETH THE POOR TO INCREASE HIS (RICHES, AND) HE THAT GIVETH TO THE RICH, (SHALL) SURELY (HEBREW, ONLY; 'ak (H389 )) (COME) TO WANT. Both alike are seeking self: the one by oppressing the poor, the other by giving to the rich hoping for something again (Luke 6:33). The latter often comes to want and disappointment in this world, and certainly shall be without the true riches at the day of coming recompense (Luke 14:12). Maurer translates, 'He that oppresseth the poor shall' in the event be found 'to increase the poor man's riches;'...

Verse Proverbs 22:16. _HE THAT OPPRESSETH THE POOR_] He who, in order to obtain the favour of the _rich_ and _great_, either _robs_ or _cheats_ the _poor_, to make those men _presents_; or gives _in presents_ to them, for the sake of _honour_ and _reputation_, what he should have given to the _poor, shall surely_ come to _want_....

Better, He who oppresses the poor for his own profit gives. (i. e., will, in the common course of things, be compelled to give) to a rich man, and that only to his own loss. Ill-gotten gains do not prosper, and only expose the oppressor to extortion and violence in his turn....

EXPOSITION PROVERBS 22:1 A GOOD NAME IS RATHER TO BE CHOSEN THAN GREAT RICHES. It will be observed that "good" in the Authorized Version is in italics, showing that the epithet is not expressed in the Hebrew, which is simply שֵׁם (_shem_)_, _"name." But this word carried with it the notion of good repute, as in Ecclesiastes 7:1; for being well known implied honour and reputation, while being nameless (Job 30:8) signified not only obscurity, but ignominy and discredit. Hence the versions have ὄνομα καλόν_, nomen bonum, _and Ecclesiasticus 41:12, "Have regard to thy name (περὶ ὀνόματος)_, _for that shall continue with thee above a thousan

HE THAT OPPRESSETH THE POOR TO INCREASE HIS [RICHES],.... By taking away from them the little they have; by keeping back their hire, defrauding them of the just wages of their labours; or by usury and extortion, or any other unjust method, whereby they distress the poor, and enrich themselves; [AND] HE THAT GIVETH TO THE RICH [SHALL] SURELY [COME] TO WANT: that gives to those that are richer than he; or that are in greater power and authority, that they may protect him in the possession of his ill gotten riches; yet, after all, it shall not thrive and prosper with him, it will all issue in poverty and want: or, as the Vulgate Latin version renders it, "he shall give to one more rich, and shall want"; he shall be forced to give it to another richer than he, and of greater power, and so shall get nothing by his oppression of the poor; but as he has served the poor, so shall he be served h...

CHAPTER 22 INSTRUCTIONS CONTINUED Better than great riches, better than silver and gold is a name and loving favor. If a person has riches and a bad name and is not well thought of, he is less honorable than the poor man who has a name and good reputation. In Ecclesiastes, Solomon says: “A good name is better than precious ointment” Ecclesiastes 7:11). The third verse has a wise message: “The prudent man foreseeth the evil and hideth himself, but the simple pass on, and suffer for it.” The Lord has revealed in His Word the evil which is in store for the sinner and the impenitent. He also has prepared a hiding place, an ark of safety, in His Son, our Lord. The prudent believeth the Word and flees to the refuge; the simple, the unbelieving, pass on and suffer for it when the evil comes. Humility and the fear of the Lord has a reward, while thorns and snares are in the way of the

PROVERBS 22:6. IN THE WAY HE SHOULD GO puts more into the Heb. than it contains. It is lit. train up a child in proportion to his way_ i.e._ train him suitably. The moral implication is absent. The stress is on the effect of training. Proverbs 22:11. RV hides disorder of MT. Read, probably, The king loves the pure in heart, grace of lips is his good pleasure. Proverbs 22:12 a is difficult. RV will not pass. The lit. Heb. is the eyes of Yahweh guard knowledge. The abstract knowledge in Heb. cannot mean its possessors; the eyes of Yahweh are nowhere said to guard anybody, and no Hebrew would say that the eyes of Yahweh guard knowledge in the sense of possessing it, nor does it give any

shall _surely_come] Or, cometh ONLY, R.V. Two opposite methods of self-aggrandisement, grinding the poor and currying favour with the rich, have a common end in penury. Some, however, would render, He that oppresseth the poor (does it) _to increase his_(the poor man's) _gain_, because he urges him to fresh and successful effort; _He that giveth to the rich_(does it) _only to_(the rich man's) _want_, because he encourages him in the sloth and indulgence which bring him to poverty. But this is far-fetched, and the suggestion that by oppressing your neighbour you may after all prove to be his benefactor is out of harmony with the moral tone of this Book....

HE THAT OPPRESSETH THE POOR, &C.— _He who spoileth the poor that he may abound in riches, shall himself give to the rich, and want._ Houbigant. From this verse, there is scarcely any interpreter but has observed that another form of speech, very different from the preceding, begins and continues to the 25th chapter. From the beginning of the tenth chapter to this place, the instructions of wisdom are delivered in short sentences, and proverbs properly so called, which have seldom any connection. But now follow exhortations and precepts in the imperative mood, and those comprehended in two, three, or more verses. See Bishop Patrick and Calmet. REFLECTIONS.—The inspired penman here changes his stile; and, as in the beginning, addresses himself to his son in a way of exhortation; and what he says to him, he says to all. Diligent attention, and heart-application, are necessary, if we would c...

TEXT Proverbs 22:11-21 11. He that loveth pureness of heart, For the grace of his lips the king will be his friend. 12. The eyes of Jehovah preserve him that hath knowledge; But he overthroweth the words of the treacherous man. 13. The sluggard saith, There is a lion without; I shall be slain in the streets. 14. The mouth of strange women is a deep pit; He that is abhorred of Jehovah shall fall therein. 15. Foolishness is bound up in the heart of a child; But the rod of correction shall drive it far from him. 16. He that oppresseth the poor to increase his gain, And he that giveth to the rich, shall only come to want. 17 Incline thine ear, and hear the words of the wise, And apply thy heart unto my knowledge. 18. For it is a pleasant thing i