Proverbs 14:21
He who despises his neighbour sins, but he who has pity on the poor is blessed.
World English Bible British
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 person is shunned even by his own neighbour, but the rich person has many friends.
22Don’t they go astray who plot evil? But love and faithfulness belong to those who plan good.
Cross References
Job 31:13“If I have despised the cause of my male servant or of my female servant, when they contended with me,
Psalms 22:24For he has not despised nor abhorred the affliction of the afflicted, neither has he hidden his face from him; but when he cried to him, he heard.
Psalms 41:2The LORD will preserve him, and keep him alive. He shall be blessed on the earth, and he will not surrender him to the will of his enemies.
Psalms 112:9He has dispersed, he has given to the poor. His righteousness endures forever. His horn will be exalted with honour.
Proverbs 11:24There is one who scatters, and increases yet more. There is one who withholds more than is appropriate, but gains poverty.
Proverbs 17:5Whoever mocks the poor 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 →