Proverbs 14:21
New International Version
It is a sin to despise one’s neighbor, but blessed is the one who is kind to the needy.

New Living Translation
It is a sin to belittle one’s neighbor; blessed are those who help the poor.

English Standard Version
Whoever despises his neighbor is a sinner, but blessed is he who is generous to the poor.

Berean Standard Bible
He who despises his neighbor sins, but blessed is he who shows kindness to the poor.

King James Bible
He that despiseth his neighbour sinneth: but he that hath mercy on the poor, happy is he.

New King James Version
He who despises his neighbor sins; But he who has mercy on the poor, happy is he.

New American Standard Bible
One who despises his neighbor sins, But one who is gracious to the poor is blessed.

NASB 1995
He who despises his neighbor sins, But happy is he who is gracious to the poor.

NASB 1977
He who despises his neighbor sins, But happy is he who is gracious to the poor.

Legacy Standard Bible
He who despises his neighbor sins, But how blessed is he who is gracious to the poor.

Amplified Bible
He who despises his neighbor sins [against God and his fellow man], But happy [blessed and favored by God] is he who is gracious and merciful to the poor.

Christian Standard Bible
The one who despises his neighbor sins, but whoever shows kindness to the poor will be happy.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
The one who despises his neighbor sins, but whoever shows kindness to the poor will be happy.

American Standard Version
He that despiseth his neighbor sinneth; But he that hath pity on the poor, happy is he.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
He that despises his neighbor sins, and he that shows mercy upon the poor is blessed.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
He that dishonours the needy sins: but he that has pity on the poor is most blessed.

Contemporary English Version
It's wrong to hate others, but God blesses everyone who is kind to the poor.

Douay-Rheims Bible
He that despiseth his neighbour, sinneth: but he that sheweth mercy to the poor, shall be blessed. He that believeth in the Lord, loveth mercy.

English Revised Version
He that despiseth his neighbour sinneth: but he that hath pity on the poor, happy is he.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Whoever despises his neighbor sins, but blessed is the one who is kind to humble people.

Good News Translation
If you want to be happy, be kind to the poor; it is a sin to despise anyone.

International Standard Version
Whoever despises his neighbor sins, but whoever shows kindness to the poor will be happy.

JPS Tanakh 1917
He that despiseth his neighbour sinneth; But he that is gracious unto the humble, happy is he.

Literal Standard Version
Whoever is despising his neighbor sins, | Whoever is favoring the humble, | O his blessedness.

Majority Standard Bible
He who despises his neighbor sins, but blessed is he who shows kindness to the poor.

New American Bible
Whoever despises the hungry comes up short, but happy the one who is kind to the poor!

NET Bible
The one who despises his neighbor sins, but whoever is kind to the needy is blessed.

New Revised Standard Version
Those who despise their neighbors are sinners, but happy are those who are kind to the poor.

New Heart English Bible
He who despises his neighbor sins, but blessed is he who shows kindness to the poor.

Webster's Bible Translation
He that despiseth his neighbor sinneth: but he that hath mercy on the poor, happy is he.

World English Bible
He who despises his neighbor sins, but he who has pity on the poor is blessed.

Young's Literal Translation
Whoso is despising his neighbour sinneth, Whoso is favouring the humble, O his happiness.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Wise Woman
20The poor man is hated even by his neighbor, but many are those who love the rich. 21He who despises his neighbor sins, but blessed is he who shows kindness to the poor. 22Do not those who contrive evil go astray? But those who plan goodness find loving devotion and faithfulness.…

Cross References
Psalm 41:1
Blessed is he who cares for the poor; the LORD will deliver him in the day of trouble.

Proverbs 11:12
Whoever shows contempt for his neighbor lacks judgment, but a man of understanding remains silent.

Proverbs 19:17
Kindness to the poor is a loan to the LORD, and He will repay the lender.

Proverbs 21:10
The soul of the wicked man craves evil; his neighbor finds no favor in his eyes.

Proverbs 28:8
He who increases his wealth by interest and usury lays it up for one who is kind to the poor.


Treasury of Scripture

He that despises his neighbor sins: but he that has mercy on the poor, happy is he.

that despiseth

Proverbs 11:12
He that is void of wisdom despiseth his neighbour: but a man of understanding holdeth his peace.

Proverbs 17:5
Whoso mocketh the poor reproacheth his Maker: and he that is glad at calamities shall not be unpunished.

Proverbs 18:3
When the wicked cometh, then cometh also contempt, and with ignominy reproach.

he that hath

Proverbs 14:31
He that oppresseth the poor reproacheth his Maker: but he that honoureth him hath mercy on the poor.

Proverbs 11:24,25
There is that scattereth, and yet increaseth; and there is that withholdeth more than is meet, but it tendeth to poverty…

Proverbs 19:17
He that hath pity upon the poor lendeth unto the LORD; and that which he hath given will he pay him again.

Jump to Previous
Afflicted Blessed Despises Despiseth Despising Favouring Gracious Happiness Happy Humble Kind Mercy Needy Neighbor Neighbour Pity Poor Respect Sinner Sinneth Sins
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Afflicted Blessed Despises Despiseth Despising Favouring Gracious Happiness Happy Humble Kind Mercy Needy Neighbor Neighbour Pity Poor Respect Sinner Sinneth Sins
Proverbs 14
1. A wise woman builds her house














Verse 21. - He that despiseth his neighbour sinneth. Taken in connection with the preceding verse, this teaches that it is a sin to despise and shun a man because he is poor or of low estate; such a one has a claim for love and pity, and it is a crime to withhold them from him for selfish considerations. The Christian view is taught by the parable of the good Samaritan. But he that hath mercy on the poor, happy is he; hail to him! (Proverbs 16:20). Contempt is contrasted with mercy, sin with blessing. "Blessed are the merciful," said Christ (Matthew 5:7): "for they shall obtain mercy;" and St. Paul preserves another precious word, "It is mere blessed to give than to receive" (Acts 20:35). The merciful disposition, which shows itself in works of mercy, is a proof that the soul is in union with God, whose mercy is over all his works, whose mercy endureth forever, and therefore such a soul is blessed. "The poor," wrote James Howell, "are God's receivers, and the angels are his auditors" ('Five Hundred New Sayings'). The Vulgate here appends a line absent from the Hebrew and the ether versions, "He who believeth in the Lord loveth mercy." The true believer is charitable and bountiful, knowing that he will not hereby impoverish himself, but lay up a rich store of blessing; he acts thus not from mere philanthropy, but from higher motives: he has the grace of charity which springs from and rests upon his faith in God.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
He who despises
בָּז־ (bāz-)
Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular
Strong's 936: To disrespect

his neighbor
לְרֵעֵ֥הוּ (lə·rê·‘ê·hū)
Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 7453: Friend, companion, fellow

sins,
חוֹטֵ֑א (ḥō·w·ṭê)
Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular
Strong's 2398: To miss, to sin, to forfeit, lack, expiate, repent, lead astray, condemn

but blessed is
אַשְׁרָֽיו׃ (’aš·rāw)
Interjection | third person masculine singular
Strong's 835: Happiness, interjection, how happy!

he who shows kindness
וּמְחוֹנֵ֖ן (ū·mə·ḥō·w·nên)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Participle - masculine singular
Strong's 2603: To bend, stoop in kindness to an inferior, to favor, bestow, to implore

to the poor.
עֲנָוִ֣ים (‘ă·nā·wîm)
Adjective - masculine plural
Strong's 6041: Poor, afflicted, humble


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OT Poetry: Proverbs 14:21 He who despises his neighbor sins (Prov. Pro Pr)
Proverbs 14:20
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