Proverbs 14:21
He who despises his neighbor sins, but he who has pity on the poor, happy is he.
A Conservative Version
In The King James Version
He that despiseth his neighbour sinneth: but he that hath mercy on the poor, happy is he.
In Context
20The poor man is hated even by his own neighbor, but the rich man has many friends.
22Do they not err who devise evil? But mercy and truth [are to] those who devise good.
Cross References
Job 31:13If I have despised the case of my man-servant or of my maid-servant when they contended with me,
Psalms 22:24For he has not despised nor abhorred the affliction of the afflicted, neither has he hid his face from him, but when he cried to him, he heard.
Psalms 41:2LORD will preserve him, and keep him alive, and he shall be blessed upon the earth. And thou do not deliver him to the will of his enemies.
Psalms 112:9He has scattered, he has given to the poor. His righteousness endures forever. His horn shall be exalted with honor.
Proverbs 11:24There is he who scatters, and increases yet more, and there he is who withholds more than is proper, but only to want.
Proverbs 17:5He who mocks a poor man reproaches his maker. He who is glad at calamity shall not be unpunished.
Matthew Henry on Proverbs 14:21
20 The poor is hated even of his own neighbour: but the rich hath many friends. This shows, not what should be, but what is the common way of the world—to be shy of the poor and fond of the rich. 1. Few will give countenance to those whom the world frowns upon, though otherwise worthy of respect: The poor, who should be pitied, and encouraged, and relieved, is hated, looked strange upon, and kept at a distance, even by his own neighbour, who, before he fell into disgrace, was intimate with him and pretended to… Read the whole commentary →