Proverbs 14:20-21 – Rich and Poor

BIBLE TEXT

Proverbs 14:20-21

SUMMARY

Attitudes toward the poor are problematic.

ANALYSIS

Proverbs 14:20 tells the truth about how the rich and the poor are treated differently: the rich have friends while the poor are disliked. Then v. 21 puts this observation in an ethical context: such an attitude is sinful. The first proverb is most certainly true, but the second proverb contains the actual wisdom. (See “The Role of Contradiction/Paradox” and “The Social Ethic of Proverbs: Wealth and Poverty” entries in Bible in the World – Proverbs.)