Proverbs 18:23
21 Life and death are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit.
22 He who finds a wife finds a good thing and obtains favor from the LORD.
The poor man pleads for mercy, but the rich man answers harshly.
24 A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who stays closer than a brother.
Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.
Compare
- BSB
- The poor man pleads for mercy, but the rich man answers harshly.
- KJV
- The poor useth intreaties; but the rich answereth roughly.
- WEB
- The poor plead for mercy, but the rich answer harshly.
- ASV
- The poor useth entreaties; But the rich answereth roughly.
- DARBY
- He that is poor speaketh with supplications, but the rich answereth roughly.
- BLB
- [With] supplications the poor one speaks, and a rich one answers fiercely.
- ÅB
- I ydmyke bønner taler den fattige, men den rike svarer med hårde ord.
- OTB
- De fattige ber om nåde, men de rike svarer hardt.
- B1930
- I ydmyke bønner taler den fattige, men den rike svarer med hårde ord.
Study notes (Tyndale)
Original text and word study
Cross references
James 2:3
If you lavish attention on the man in fine clothes and say, “Here is a seat of honor,” but say to the poor man, “You must stand” or “Sit at my feet,”
Read in contextJames 1:9–11
The brother in humble circumstances should exult in his high position.
Read in contextExodus 5:2
But Pharaoh replied, “Who is the LORD that I should obey His voice and let Israel go? I do not know the LORD, and I will not let Israel go.”
Read in contextJames 2:6
But you have dishonored the poor. Is it not the rich who oppress you and drag you into court?
Read in context1 Samuel 25:17
Now consider carefully what you must do, because disaster looms over our master and all his household. For he is such a scoundrel that nobody can speak to him!”
Read in contextIsaiah 66:2
Has not My hand made all these things? And so they came into being,” declares the LORD. “This is the one I will esteem: he who is humble and contrite in spirit, who trembles at My word.
Read in context2 Kings 4:1–2
Now the wife of one of the sons of the prophets cried out to Elisha, “Your servant, my husband, is dead, and you know that your servant feared the LORD. And now his creditor is coming to take my two children as his slaves!”
Read in contextGenesis 42:7
And when Joseph saw his brothers, he recognized them, but he treated them as strangers and spoke harshly to them. “Where have you come from?” he asked. “From the land of Canaan,” they replied. “We are here to buy food.”
Read in context