Proverbs 17:5

5 The one who mocks the poor insults his Maker,^[a] and one who rejoices over disaster will not go unpunished.^[b]

Proverbs 17:5 Meaning and Commentary

Proverbs 17:5

Whoso mocketh the poor reproacheth his Maker
He that mocks the poor for his poverty, Upbraids him with his mean appearance, scoffs at the clothes he wears or food he eats, such an one reproaches his Creator; or, as the Targum,

``provokes his Creator to anger;''

him who is his own Creator as well as the poor man's; him who made the poor man, both as a man and as a poor man; and who could have made him rich if he would, as well as the man that mocks at him; whose riches are not of himself, but of God; and who can take them away, and give them to the poor man if he pleases; and therefore rich men should be careful how they mock the poor; for, as Gersom observes, he that derides a work derides the workman; [and] he that is glad at calamities shall not be unpunished;
or "at calamity" ^F3; at the calamity of another, as the Vulgate Latin; and so Gersom; for no man rejoices at his own calamity; at the calamity of the poor, as Aben Ezra; or of his neighbour or companion, as the Targum; or at the calamity of any of his fellow creatures, as the Edomites rejoiced at the calamity of the Jews, but were in their turn destroyed; and as the Jews rejoiced when the Christians were persecuted by Nero, and at length were destroyed themselves by the Romans; and as the Papists will rejoice when the witnesses are slain, and quickly after seven thousand men of name will be slain of them, and the rest frightened, ( Revelation 11:10 Revelation 11:13 ) .

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FOOTNOTES:

F3 (dyal) "ad calamitatem", Schultens; "ob calamitatem", Cocceius; "calamitate", Junius & Tremellius, Piscator.

Proverbs 17:5 In-Context

3 A crucible is for silver and a smelter for gold, but the Lord is a tester of hearts.

4 A wicked person listens to malicious talk; a liar pays attention to a destructive tongue.

5 The one who mocks the poor insults his Maker, and one who rejoices over disaster will not go unpunished.

6 Grandchildren are the crown of the elderly, and the pride of sons is their fathers.

7 Excessive speech is not appropriate on a fool's lips; how much worse are lies for a ruler.

Footnotes

• [a]. Pr 14:31; 21:13
• [b]. Lm 1:21-22; Ezk 25:6-7; 35:15