Proverbs 14:21

21 He that despiseth his neighbor sinneth, but he that hath mercy on the poor, happy is he.

Proverbs 14:21 Meaning and Commentary

Proverbs 14:21

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 relieving him: he that shows favour to the meek and humble ones, as the word ^F19 may be rendered, and as they generally are that are in affliction and poverty, for these tend to humble men; and such who regard them in their low estate are "happy" or blessed; they are blessed in things temporal and spiritual, and both here and hereafter; see ( Psalms 41:1-3 ) ( Matthew 5:7 ) .

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FOOTNOTES:

F19 (Mywne) "modestorum", Montanus, Mercerus; "mansuetos", Cocceius.

Proverbs 14:21 In-Context

19 The evil bow before the good, the wicked at the gates of the righteous.

20 The poor is hated even by his own neighbor, but the rich hath many friends.

21 He that despiseth his neighbor sinneth, but he that hath mercy on the poor, happy is he.

22 Do they not err that devise evil? But mercy and truth shall be to them that devise good.

23 In all labor there is profit, but the talk of the lips tendeth only to penury.