Proverbs 14:20
A poor man shall be (thought) hateful, yea, (even) to his neighbour; but many men be (the) friends of rich men.
Wycliffe Modern Spelling
In The King James Version
The poor is hated even of his own neighbour: but the rich hath many friends.
In Context
21He that despiseth his neighbour, doeth sin; but he that doeth mercy to a poor man, shall be blessed.
Cross References
Esther 3:2And all the servants of the king, that served in the gates of the palace, kneeled, and worshipped Haman; for so the emperor had commanded to them; but Mordecai alone bowed not his knees to him, neither worshipped him. (And all the king’s officials, who were in attendance at the royal court, kneeled before Haman, and honoured him; for the king had so commanded them; but Mordecai alone did not bow his knee to Haman, nor show him any respect.)
Job 6:21Now ye be come, and now ye see my wound, and dread (or and ye be afraid or and ye have fear).
Job 30:10They hold me abominable, and they flee far from me, and dread not to spit on my face (or and do not fear to spit in my face).
Proverbs 10:15The chattel of a rich man is the city of his strength; the dread of poor men is the neediness of them. (The substance of a rich man is his strong city; the fear of the poor is their own neediness.)
Proverbs 19:6Many men honour the person of a mighty man; and they be friends of him that dealeth (out) gifts.
Matthew Henry on Proverbs 14:20
19 The evil bow before the good; and the wicked at the gates of the righteous. That is, 1. The wicked are oftentimes impoverished and brought low, so that they are forced to beg, their wickedness having reduced them to straits; while good men, by the blessing of God, are enriched, and enabled to give, and do give, even to the evil; for where God grants life we must not deny a livelihood. 2. Sometimes God extorts, even from bad men, an acknowledgement of the excellency of God's people. The evil ought always to bow… Read the whole commentary →