Proverbs 14:20

20 The poor are shunned even by their neighbors, but the rich have many friends.

Proverbs 14:20 in Other Translations

20 The poor is hated even of his own neighbour: but the rich hath many friends.

20 The poor is disliked even by his neighbor, but the rich has many friends.

20 The poor are despised even by their neighbors, while the rich have many “friends.”

20 An unlucky loser is shunned by all, but everyone loves a winner.

20 A poor man is hated even by his neighbor, but there are many who love the rich.

Proverbs 14:20 Meaning and Commentary

Proverbs 14:20

The poor is hated even of his own neighbour
As well as of strangers; that is, he is shy of him; he does not care to take any notice of him, or be friendly with him, lest he should be burdensome to him. Poverty brings a man into contempt and disgrace; the same man, in affluence and indigence, is respected or disrespected: this is true, as Gersom observes, of a man that is poor, whether in money or in knowledge, in his purse or in his understanding; but the rich [hath] many friends;
or, "many [are] the lovers of the rich" ^F18: for the sake of their riches; either for the sake of honour or profit, or because the rich want nothing of them, or because they themselves may gain something by them: this also is observed by the above Jewish commentator to be true of the rich in substance or in wisdom; but the former sense is best; for a wise man, if poor in the world, is but little regarded.

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FOOTNOTES:

F18 (Mybr ryve ybhaw) "et amatores divitiis spissi", Schultens; "dilectores autem divitis multi sunt", Piscator. "Donec eris felix, multos numerabis amicos", Ovid. Trist. Eleg. 8. "Dat census honores, census amicitias", ib. Fasti, l. 1. so Phocylides, v. 925, 926.

Proverbs 14:20 In-Context

18 The simple inherit folly, but the prudent are crowned with knowledge.

19 Evildoers will bow down in the presence of the good, and the wicked at the gates of the righteous.

20 The poor are shunned even by their neighbors, but the rich have many friends.

21 It is a sin to despise one’s neighbor, but blessed is the one who is kind to the needy.

22 Do not those who plot evil go astray? But those who plan what is good find love and faithfulness.

Cross References

• 1. Proverbs 19:4,7