Proverbs 19:4

4 Wealth attracts friends as honey draws flies, but poor people are avoided like a plague.

Proverbs 19:4 Meaning and Commentary

Proverbs 19:4

Wealth maketh many friends
Or "adds" ^F6; it increases the number of them: so the poet ^F7, "donec eris felix, multos numerabis amicos"; and to this agrees what the wise man says, ( Proverbs 14:20 ) ; but the poor is separated from his neighbour;
or "friend" ^F8; he will not visit him as he did in his prosperity, nor suffer him to come into his house or company, or come near him; he is separated from his affection, friendship, and presence: so another poet ^F9,

``if thou art rich, thou wilt have many friends; but, if poor, few.''

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FOOTNOTES:

F6 (Pyoy) . "addit", Junius & Tremellius, Piscator.
F7 Ovid.
F8 (wherm) "ab amico sua", Pagninus, Montanus, Baynus, Junius & Tremeliius, Piscator, Michaelis; "a sodali sua", Schultens.
F9 Theognis.

Proverbs 19:4 In-Context

2 Ignorant zeal is worthless; haste makes waste.

3 People ruin their lives by their own stupidity, so why does God always get blamed?

4 Wealth attracts friends as honey draws flies, but poor people are avoided like a plague.

5 Perjury won't go unpunished. Would you let a liar go free?

6 Lots of people flock around a generous person; everyone's a friend to the philanthropist.