Proverbs 14 · Verse 31

Proverbs 14:31

He that oppresseth the poor reproacheth his Maker: but he that honoureth him hath mercy on the poor.
Proverbs 14:31, King James Version

Proverbs 14:31 in other translations

BSBWhoever oppresses the poor taunts their Maker, but whoever is kind to the needy honors Him.
WEBHe who oppresses the poor shows contempt for his Maker, but he who is kind to the needy honors him.
ASVHe that oppresseth the poor reproacheth his Maker; But he that hath mercy on the needy honoreth him.
YLTAn oppressor of the poor reproacheth his Maker, And whoso is honouring Him Is favouring the needy.
DARBYHe that oppresseth the poor reproacheth his Maker; but he that honoureth Him is gracious to the needy.
BBEHe 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.
WebsterHe that oppresseth the poor reproacheth his Maker: but he that honoreth him hath mercy on the poor.

What does Proverbs 14:31 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
31. reproacheth his Maker--who is the God of such, as well as of the rich (Pr 22:2; Job 31:15; and specially 1Sa 2:8; Psa 113:7).

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

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 31 He that oppresseth the poor reproacheth his Maker - Because the poor, or comparatively poor, are, in the order of God, a part of the inhabitants of the earth; and every man who loves God will show mercy to the poor, for with this God is peculiarly delighted. The poor have we ever with us, for the excitement and exercise of those benevolent, compassionate, and merciful feelings, without which men had been but little better than brutes.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary
To oppress the poor is to reproach our Creator.

Matthew Henry, 1706 · public domain

Proverbs 14:31 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.

עֹ֣שֵֽׁק\־'O.shek-[one who] oppressesH6231
דָּ֭לdal[the] poorH1800
חֵרֵ֣ףche.Refhe reproachesH2778
עֹשֵׂ֑הוּ'o.Se.humaker hisH6213
וּ֝מְכַבְּד֗וֹu.me.kha.be.Doand [is] honoring himH3513
חֹנֵ֥ןcho.Nen[one who] shows favor toH2603
אֶבְיֽוֹן\׃'ev.Yon[the] needyH34

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

Cross references for Proverbs 14:31

  • Proverbs 22:2

    The rich and poor meet together: the Lord is the maker of them all.

  • Proverbs 17:5

    Whoso mocketh the poor reproacheth his Maker: and he that is glad at calamities shall not be unpunished.

  • Proverbs 22:16

    He that oppresseth the poor to increase his riches, and he that giveth to the rich, shall surely come to want.

  • Proverbs 19:17

    He that hath pity upon the poor lendeth unto the Lord; and that which he hath given will he pay him again.

  • 1 John 4:21

    And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also.

  • Ecclesiastes 5:8

    If thou seest the oppression of the poor, and violent perverting of judgment and justice in a province, marvel not at the matter: for he that is higher than the highest regardeth; and there be higher than they.

  • 1 John 3:17-21

    But whoso hath this world’s good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him? My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth. And hereby we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before him. For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things. …

  • Psalms 12:5

    For the oppression of the poor, for the sighing of the needy, now will I arise, saith the Lord; I will set him in safety from him that puffeth at him.

  • Job 31:13-16

    If I did despise the cause of my manservant or of my maidservant, when they contended with me; What then shall I do when God riseth up? and when he visiteth, what shall I answer him? Did not he that made me in the womb make him? and did not one fashion us in the womb? If I have withheld the poor from their desire, or have caused the eyes of the widow to fail;

  • 2 Corinthians 8:7-9

    Therefore, as ye abound in every thing, in faith, and utterance, and knowledge, and in all diligence, and in your love to us, see that ye abound in this grace also. I speak not by commandment, but by occasion of the forwardness of others, and to prove the sincerity of your love. For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich.

  • Proverbs 14:21

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

  • John 12:8

    For the poor always ye have with you; but me ye have not always.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
that oppresseth.
17:5; 22:2,16,22,23; Job 31:13-16; Ps 12:5; Ec 5:8; Mt 25:40-46
but.
21; 19:17; Mt 25:40; Joh 12:8; 2Co 8:7-9; 1Jo 3:17-21; 4:21

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

Context

  • Proverbs 14:30

    A sound heart is the life of the flesh: but envy the rottenness of the bones.

  • Proverbs 14:31

    He that oppresseth the poor reproacheth his Maker: but he that honoureth him hath mercy on the poor.

  • Proverbs 14:32

    The wicked is driven away in his wickedness: but the righteous hath hope in his death.

Read all of Proverbs 14

Proverbs 14:31 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		El que oprime al pobre, afrenta á su Hacedor: mas el que tiene misericordia del pobre, lo honra.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Qui opprime le pauvre outrage Celui qui l’a fait, mais celui qui l’honore use de grâce envers l’indigent.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Wer den Armen bedrückt, verhöhnt den, der ihn gemacht hat; wer aber des Dürftigen sich erbarmt, ehrt ihn.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Qui calumniatur egentem exprobrat factori ejus; honorat autem eum qui miseretur pauperis.