Proverbs Chapter 14 verse 31 Holy Bible
He that oppresseth the poor reproacheth his Maker; But he that hath mercy on the needy honoreth him.
read chapter 14 in ASV
He who is hard on the poor puts shame on his Maker; but he who has mercy on those who are in need gives him honour.
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He that oppresseth the poor reproacheth his Maker; but he that honoureth Him is gracious to the needy.
read chapter 14 in DARBY
He that oppresseth the poor reproacheth his Maker: but he that honoureth him hath mercy on the poor.
read chapter 14 in KJV
read chapter 14 in WBT
He who oppresses the poor shows contempt for his Maker, But he who is kind to the needy honors him.
read chapter 14 in WEB
An oppressor of the poor reproacheth his Maker, And whoso is honouring Him Is favouring the needy.
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Pulpit Commentary
Pulpit CommentaryVerse 31. - He that oppresseth the poor reproacheth his Maker, even God. who hath placed men in their several conditions (Proverbs 17:5; Proverbs 22:2). "The poor shall never cease out of the land" (Deuteronomy 15:11); "The poor ye have always with you," said Christ (Matthew 26:11); therefore to harass and oppress the poor because he is in this lowly condition, is virtually to arraign the providence of God, who is the Father of all, and has made all men brothers, however differing in worldly position. Christ puts the duty of aiding the poor on the high ground of his solidarity with his people (Matthew 25:40, 45), how that in ministering unto the least of these his brethren men are ministering unto him. "Prosperity and adversity, life and death, poverty and riches, come of the Lord" (Ecclus. 11:14). Even the heathen could say - Ἀεὶ νομίζονθ οἱ πένητες τῶν Θεῶν. Deem ever that the poor are God's own gift." Septuagint, "He that calumniates (συκοφανῶν; calumniatur, Vulgate) the poor angers him who made him." This version refers to oppression of the poor by means of calumny or false and frivolous accusation. But he that honoureth him - the Lord - hath mercy on the poor; or, better, he that hath mercy upon the poor honoureth him; for he shows that he has proper regard to God's ordinance, acts on high motives, and is not led astray by worldly considerations. Christ himself has consecrated poverty by coming in low estate (2 Corinthians 8:9), and they who love and honour him are glad to minister to his brethren in their poverty and distress (comp. James 1:27).
Ellicott's Commentary
Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers(31) Reproacheth his Maker.--For having placed him in such a lowly condition. The equality of all men, as being all of them the work of God, is taught by Genesis 1:27; Job 31:15; Proverbs 22:2. The duty of aiding the poor is in Matthew 25:40 based on the still higher ground of the union of Christ with His people, which makes Him regard good done to them as done to Himself.But he that honoureth him . . .--This would be better rendered, but he that hath mercy on the poor honoureth Him.
