God's Ancient Counsel for Today's Youth

Compassion

13:23 – “A poor man’s field may produce abundant food,

but injustice sweeps it away.”

14:20,21 – “The poor are shunned even by their neighbors,

but the rich have many friends. He who despises his

neighbor sins, but blessed is he who is kind to the needy.”

14:31 – “He who oppresses the poor shows contempt for

their Maker, but whoever is kind to the needy honors God.”

17:5 – “He who mocks the poor shows contempt for their

Maker…”

18:23 – “A poor man pleads for mercy, but a rich man

answers harshly.”

19:4 – “Wealth brings many friends, but a poor man’s

friends desert him.”

19:7 – “A poor man is shunned by all his relatives – how

much more do his friends avoid him! Though he pursues

them with pleading, they are nowhere to be found.”

19:17 – “He who is kind to the poor lends to the LORD,

and he will reward him for what he has done.”

21:13 – “If a man shuts his ears to the cry of the poor, he

too will cry out and not be answered.”

22:9 – “A generous man will himself be blessed, for he

shares his food with the poor.”

22:16 – “He who oppresses the poor to increase his wealth

and he who gives gifts to the rich – both come to poverty.”

22:22,23 – “Do not exploit the poor because they are poor

and do not crush the needy in court, for the LORD will take

up their case and will plunder those who plunder them.”

28:3 – “A ruler who oppresses the poor is like a driving

rain that leaves no crops.”

28:8 – “He who increases his wealth by exorbitant interest

amasses it for another, who will be kind to the poor.”

28:15 – “Like a roaring lion or a charging bear is a wicked

man ruling over a helpless people.”

28:27 – “He who gives to the poor will lack nothing, but he

who closes his eyes to them receives many curses.”

29:7 – “The righteous care about justice for the poor, but

the wicked have no such concern.”

29:14 – “If a king judges the poor with fairness, his throne

will always be secure.”

31:8,9 – “Speak up for those who cannot speak for

themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute. Speak up

and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy.”

31:20 – “She opens her arms to the poor and extends her

hands to the needy.”

Parallel Perspective: Exodus 2:5-6; Job 12:4,5;

Psalm 78:38; 86:15, 119:156; Isaiah 54:10; Daniel 2:10-13,24;

Romans 9:1-4; 10:1; Galatians 6:2