Proverbs 14 · Verse 20

Proverbs 14:20

The poor is hated even of his own neighbour: but the rich hath many friends.
Proverbs 14:20, King James Version

Proverbs 14:20 in other translations

BSBThe poor man is hated even by his neighbor, but many are those who love the rich.
WEBThe poor person is shunned even by his own neighbor, but the rich person has many friends.
ASVThe poor is hated even of his own neighbor; But the rich hath many friends.
YLTEven of his neighbour is the poor hated, And those loving the rich are many.
DARBYHe that is poor is hated even of his own neighbour; but the rich hath many friends.
BBEThe poor man is hated even by his neighbour, but the man of wealth has numbers of friends.
WebsterThe poor is hated even by his own neighbor: but the rich hath many friends.

What does Proverbs 14:20 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
20. This sad but true picture of human nature is not given approvingly, but only as a fact.

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 20 But the rich hath many friends - Many who speak to him the language of friendship; but if they profess friendship because he is rich, there is not one real friend among them. There is a fine saying of Cicero on this subject: Ut hirundines festivo tempore praesto sunt, frigore pulsae recedunt: ita falsi amici sereno tempore praesto sunt: simul atque fortunae hiemem viderint, evolant omnes - Lib. iv., ad Herenn. "They are like swallows, who fly off during the winter, and quit our cold climates; and do not return till the warm season: but as soon as the winter sets in, they are all off again." So Horace: - Donec eris felix, multos numerabis amicos:Nullus ad amissas ibit amicus opes. "As long as thou art prosperous, thou shalt have many friends: but who of them will regard thee when thou hast lost thy wealth?"

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary
Friendship in the world is governed by self-interest. It is good to have God our Friend; he will not desert us.

Matthew Henry, 1706 · public domain

Proverbs 14:20 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

גַּם\־gam-alsoH1571
לְ֭רֵעֵהוּLe.re.'e.huby neighbor hisH7453
יִשָּׂ֣נֵאyi.Sa.ne'he is hatedH8130
רָ֑שׁRasha poor [person]H7326
וְאֹהֲבֵ֖יve.'o.ha.Veiand [those who] loveH157
עָשִׁ֣יר'a.Shir<of> [the] richH6223
רַבִּֽים\׃ra.Bim[are] manyH7227

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Proverbs 14:20

  • Proverbs 19:4

    Wealth maketh many friends; but the poor is separated from his neighbour.

  • Proverbs 10:15

    The rich man’s wealth is his strong city: the destruction of the poor is their poverty.

  • Proverbs 19:6-7

    Many will intreat the favour of the prince: and every man is a friend to him that giveth gifts. All the brethren of the poor do hate him: how much more do his friends go far from him? he pursueth them with words, yet they are wanting to him.

  • Job 30:10

    They abhor me, they flee far from me, and spare not to spit in my face.

  • Esther 5:10-11

    Nevertheless Haman refrained himself: and when he came home, he sent and called for his friends, and Zeresh his wife. And Haman told them of the glory of his riches, and the multitude of his children, and all the things wherein the king had promoted him, and how he had advanced him above the princes and servants of the king.

  • Job 6:21-23

    For now ye are nothing; ye see my casting down, and are afraid. Did I say, Bring unto me? or, Give a reward for me of your substance? Or, Deliver me from the enemy’s hand? or, Redeem me from the hand of the mighty?

  • Esther 3:2

    And all the king’s servants, that were in the king’s gate, bowed, and reverenced Haman: for the king had so commanded concerning him. But Mordecai bowed not, nor did him reverence.

  • Job 19:13-14

    He hath put my brethren far from me, and mine acquaintance are verily estranged from me. My kinsfolk have failed, and my familiar friends have forgotten me.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
poor.
10:15; 19:7; Job 6:21-23; 19:13,14; 30:10
but.
19:4,6; Es 3:2; 5:10,11
the rich hath many friends. Heb. many are the lovers of therich.

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Proverbs 14:19

    The evil bow before the good; and the wicked at the gates of the righteous.

  • Proverbs 14:20

    The poor is hated even of his own neighbour: but the rich hath many friends.

  • Proverbs 14:21

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

Read all of Proverbs 14

Proverbs 14:20 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		El pobre es odioso aun á su amigo: pero muchos son los que aman al rico.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Le pauvre est haï, même de son compagnon, mais les amis du riche sont en grand nombre.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Selbst von seinem Nächsten wird der Arme gehaßt; aber derer, die den Reichen lieben, sind viele.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Etiam proximo suo pauper odiosus erit: amici vero divitum multi.