Proverbs 22:16 · King James Version
Proverbs 22:16 in the Original Hebrew
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Proverbs 22:16 in Other Translations
| KJV | He that oppresseth the poor to increase his riches, and he that giveth to the rich, shall surely come to want. |
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| WEB | Whoever oppresses the poor for his own increase and whoever gives to the rich, both come to poverty. |
| ASV | He that oppresseth the poor to increase his gain, Andhe that giveth to the rich, shall come only to want. |
| YLT | He is oppressing the poor to multiply to him, He is giving to the rich—only to want. |
| WBT | He that oppresseth the poor to increase his [riches], [and] he that giveth to the rich, [shall] surely [come] to want. |
| DBY | He that oppresseth the poor, it is to enrich him; he that giveth to the rich, [bringeth] only to want. |
Commentary on Proverbs 22:16
Expositions from classic Bible commentators.
John Gill · Proverbs 22:16
He that oppresseth the poor to increase his riches,.... By taking away from them the little they have; by keeping back their hire, defrauding them of the just wages of their labours; or by usury and extortion, or any other unjust method, whereby they distress the poor, and enrich themselves;
and he that giveth to the rich shall surely come to want: that gives to those that are richer than he; or that are in greater power and authority, that they may protect him in the possession of his ill gotten riches; yet, after all, it shall not thrive and prosper with him, it will all issue in poverty and want: or, as the Vulgate Latin version renders it, "he shall give to one more rich, and shall want"; he shall be forced to give it to another richer than he, and of greater power, and so shall get nothing by his oppression of the poor; but as he has served the poor, so shall he be served himself, and be brought to beggary and want; see Pro 21:13.
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown · Proverbs 22:16
These two vices pertain to the same selfish feeling. Both are deservedly odious to God and incur punishment.
Read Jamieson, Fausset & Brown's full commentary on Proverbs 22 →
Cross References for Proverbs 22:16
Related passages, ranked by how often readers connect them. Cross-reference data from openbible.info (CC-BY).
Questions about Proverbs 22:16
What does Proverbs 22:16 say?
Proverbs 22:16 in the King James Version reads: “He that oppresseth the poor to increase his riches, and he that giveth to the rich, shall surely come to want.” Read it in the full context of Proverbs 22, alongside the classic commentary on this page.
Where is Proverbs 22:16 found in the Bible?
Proverbs 22:16 is in the book of Proverbs, chapter 22, verse 16, in the Old Testament.
What Bible translation is Proverbs 22:16 shown in?
This is the King James Version (KJV), a public-domain translation. You can compare how other translations render Proverbs 22:16 in the table on this page.
This shows what evil courses rich men sometimes take, by which, in the end, they will impoverish themselves and provoke God, notwithstanding their abundance, to bring them to want; they oppress the poor and give to the rich. 1. They will not in charity relieve the poor, but withhold from them, that by saving that which is really the best, but which they think the most needless part of their expenses, they may increase their riches; but they will make presents to the rich, and give them great entertainments, either in pride and vain-glory, that they may look great, or in policy, that they may receive it again with advantage. Such shall surely come to want. Many have been beggared by a foolish generosity, but never any by a prudent charity. Christ bids us to invite the poor, Luk 14:12, Luk 14:13. 2. They not only will not relieve the poor, but they oppress them, rob the spital, extort from their poor tenants and neighbours, invade the rights of those who have not wherewithal to defend themselves, and then give bribes to the rich, to protect and countenance them in it. But it is all in vain; they shall come to want. Those that rob God, and so make him the enemy, cannot secure themselves by giving to the rich, to make them their friends.