Proverbs 14:21
It is sinful to despise your poor neighbors; God is pleased with those who do kind things for the poor.
Translation for Translators
In The King James Version
He that despiseth his neighbour sinneth: but he that hath mercy on the poor, happy is he.
In Context
Cross References
Job 31:13“And, if it were true that I have ever refused to listen to one of my male or female servants when they complained to me about something,
Psalms 22:24He does not despise or ignore those who are suffering; he does not hide ◄his face/himself► from them. He has listened to them when they cried out to him for help.
Psalms 41:2Yahweh protects them and allows them to live for a long time. He enables them to be happy in the land of Israel, and rescues them from their enemies.
Psalms 112:9They give things generously to poor/needy people; the results of their kind deeds will endure forever, and they will be exalted and honored.
Proverbs 11:24Some people give their money generously to poor people, but they become richer in spite of that, and some people hold tightly to their money, but they still become poor in spite of that.
Proverbs 17:5Those who make fun of poor people insult God, the one who made the poor people, and those who are happy when someone else has troubles will certainly be punished [LIT] by God.
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 →