Proverbes 22:2

2 Le riche et le pauvre se rencontrent; C'est l'Eternel qui les a faits l'un et l'autre.

Proverbes 22:2 Meaning and Commentary

Proverbs 22:2

The rich and poor meet together
In an hostile way, as some; they rush upon one another; the rich despise the poor, and the poor envy the rich; they cannot speak well one of another, as the Arabic version; or they are dependent on one another, they cannot do without each other; as in the natural body one member cannot say to another, I have no need of thee; so, in the body politic, the rich and the poor cannot say they have no need of one another; the rich stand in need of the poor to till their land, to plough and sow, and do all other servile works for them; and the poor have need of the rich to employ them; have need of their money as their wages for their work, to support themselves and families with: or they sometimes change conditions, and so meet; the poor grow rich, and the rich become poor; the one goes uphill and the other downhill, and so meet in their passage. They meet together in all places of the earth; go where you will, there are rich and poor. The godly rich and poor meet together in one place to worship God; they meet together in a Gospel church state, enjoying the same privileges and ordinances; and will all meet the Lord, and all meet together at his judgment seat; and they will meet in heaven, and be together to all eternity, where the distinction will cease: and the wicked rich and poor meet together to commit sin; and they meet together in the grave F17, where there is no difference; and they will meet at the bar of God at the last day, and in hell, where they will be together for evermore; the Lord [is] the Maker of them all:
not only as men, but as rich men and poor men; God gives riches to whom he pleases, and poverty to whom he pleases; riches and poverty are according to the order of divine Providence; and he can and does change scenes at his pleasure; wherefore the rich should consider themselves as dependent on him, and not despise and crush the poor; and the poor should be content with their state, as being allotted to them by the Lord, who can alter it when he thinks fit.


FOOTNOTES:

F17 "Victor cum victis pariter miscebitur umbris--Lydus Delichio, non ditat Croesus ab Iro", Propert. l. 3. Eleg. 5. v. 15, 17.

Proverbes 22:2 In-Context

1 La réputation est préférable à de grandes richesses, Et la grâce vaut mieux que l'argent et que l'or.
2 Le riche et le pauvre se rencontrent; C'est l'Eternel qui les a faits l'un et l'autre.
3 L'homme prudent voit le mal et se cache, Mais les simples avancent et sont punis.
4 Le fruit de l'humilité, de la crainte de l'Eternel, C'est la richesse, la gloire et la vie.
5 Des épines, des pièges sont sur la voie de l'homme pervers; Celui qui garde son âme s'en éloigne.
The Louis Segond 1910 is in the public domain.