Proverbs 3 · Verse 27

Proverbs 3:27

Withhold not good from them to whom it is due, when it is in the power of thine hand to do it.
Proverbs 3:27, King James Version

Proverbs 3:27 in other translations

BSBDo not withhold good from the deserving when it is within your power to act.
WEBDon’t withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in the power of your hand to do it.
ASVWithhold not good from them to whom it is due, When it is in the power of thy hand to do it.
YLTWithhold not good from its owners, When thy hand is toward God to do it.
DARBYWithhold not good from them to whom it is due, when it is in the power of thy hand to do it.
BBEDo not keep back good from those who have a right to it, when it is in the power of your hand to do it.
WebsterWithhold not good from them to whom it is due, when it is in the power of thy hand to do it.

What does Proverbs 3:27 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Proverbs 3:27-28
27-28. Promptly fulfil all obligations both of justice and charity (compare Jas 2:15, 16).

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

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 27 Withhold not good from them to whom it is due - מבעליו mibbealaiv, from the lords of it. But who are they? The poor. And what art thou, O rich man? Why, thou art a steward, to whom God has given substance that thou mayest divide with the poor. They are the right owners of every farthing thou hast to spare from thy own support, and that of thy family; and God has given the surplus for their sakes. Dost thou, by hoarding up this treasure, deprive the right owners of their property? If this were a civil case, the law would take thee by the throat, and lay thee up in prison; but it is a case in which God alone judges. And what will he do to thee? Hear! "He shall have judgment without mercy, who hath showed no mercy;" Jam 2:13. Read, feel, tremble, and act justly.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Proverbs 3:27-35
Our business is to observe the precepts of Christ, and to copy his example; to do justice, to love mercy, and to beware of covetousness; to be ready for every good work, avoiding needless strife, and bearing evils, if possible, rather than seeking redress by law. It will be found there is little got by striving. Let us not envy prosperous oppressors; far be it from the disciples of Christ to choose any of their ways. These truths may be despised by the covetous and luxurious, but everlasting contempt will be the portion of such scorners, while Divine favour is shown to the humble believer.

Matthew Henry, 1706 · public domain

Proverbs 3:27 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.

אַל\־'al-may notH408
תִּמְנַע\־tim.na'-you withholdH4513
ט֥וֹבTovgoodH2896
מִבְּעָלָ֑יוmi.be.'a.Lavfrom owners itsH1167
בִּהְי֨וֹתbih.Yotwhen belongsH1961
לְאֵ֖לle.'Elto [the] power ofH410
יָדְךָ֣ya.dei.khahand yourH3027
לַעֲשֽׂוֹת\׃la.'a.Sotto do [it]H6213

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

Cross references for Proverbs 3:27

  • Galatians 6:10

    As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.

  • James 2:15-16

    If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit?

  • Romans 13:7

    Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honour to whom honour.

  • James 5:4

    Behold, the hire of the labourers who have reaped down your fields, which is of you kept back by fraud, crieth: and the cries of them which have reaped are entered into the ears of the Lord of sabaoth.

  • Genesis 31:29

    It is in the power of my hand to do you hurt: but the God of your father spake unto me yesternight, saying, Take thou heed that thou speak not to Jacob either good or bad.

  • Micah 2:1

    Woe to them that devise iniquity, and work evil upon their beds! when the morning is light, they practise it, because it is in the power of their hand.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Withhold.
Ro 13:7; Ga 6:10; Tit 2:14; Jas 2:15,16; 5:4
them to whom it is due. Heb. the owners thereof. in the.
Ge 31:29; Mic 2:1

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

Context

  • Proverbs 3:26

    For the Lord shall be thy confidence, and shall keep thy foot from being taken.

  • Proverbs 3:27

    Withhold not good from them to whom it is due, when it is in the power of thine hand to do it.

  • Proverbs 3:28

    Say not unto thy neighbour, Go, and come again, and to morrow I will give; when thou hast it by thee.

Read all of Proverbs 3

Proverbs 3:27 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		No detengas el bien de sus dueños, cuando tuvieres poder para hacerlo.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Ne refuse pas le bien à celui à qui il est dû, quand il est au pouvoir de ta main de le faire.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Enthalte kein Gutes dem vor, welchem es zukommt, wenn es in der Macht deiner Hand steht, es zu tun. -
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Noli prohibere benefacere eum qui potest: si vales, et ipse benefac.