Proverbs 17:5

5 Whoever mocks the poor shows contempt for their Maker; whoever gloats over disaster will not go unpunished.

Proverbs 17:5 in Other Translations

King James Version (KJV)
5 Whoso mocketh the poor reproacheth his Maker: and he that is glad at calamities shall not be unpunished.
English Standard Version (ESV)
5 Whoever mocks the poor insults his Maker; he who is glad at calamity will not go unpunished.
New Living Translation (NLT)
5 Those who mock the poor insult their Maker; those who rejoice at the misfortune of others will be punished.
The Message Bible (MSG)
5 Whoever mocks poor people, insults their Creator; gloating over misfortune is a punishable crime.
American Standard Version (ASV)
5 Whoso mocketh the poor reproacheth his Maker; [And] he that is glad at calamity shall not be unpunished.
GOD'S WORD Translation (GW)
5 Whoever makes fun of a poor person insults his maker. Whoever is happy [to see someone's] distress will not escape punishment.
Holman Christian Standard Bible (CSB)
5 The one who mocks the poor insults his Maker, and one who rejoices over disaster will not go unpunished.
New International Reader's Version (NIRV)
5 Anyone who laughs at those who are poor makes fun of their Maker. Anyone who is happy when others suffer will be punished.

Proverbs 17:5 Meaning and Commentary

Proverbs 17:5

Whoso mocketh the poor reproacheth his Maker
He that mocks the poor for his poverty, Upbraids him with his mean appearance, scoffs at the clothes he wears or food he eats, such an one reproaches his Creator; or, as the Targum,

``provokes his Creator to anger;''
him who is his own Creator as well as the poor man's; him who made the poor man, both as a man and as a poor man; and who could have made him rich if he would, as well as the man that mocks at him; whose riches are not of himself, but of God; and who can take them away, and give them to the poor man if he pleases; and therefore rich men should be careful how they mock the poor; for, as Gersom observes, he that derides a work derides the workman; [and] he that is glad at calamities shall not be unpunished;
or "at calamity" F3; at the calamity of another, as the Vulgate Latin; and so Gersom; for no man rejoices at his own calamity; at the calamity of the poor, as Aben Ezra; or of his neighbour or companion, as the Targum; or at the calamity of any of his fellow creatures, as the Edomites rejoiced at the calamity of the Jews, but were in their turn destroyed; and as the Jews rejoiced when the Christians were persecuted by Nero, and at length were destroyed themselves by the Romans; and as the Papists will rejoice when the witnesses are slain, and quickly after seven thousand men of name will be slain of them, and the rest frightened, ( Revelation 11:10 Revelation 11:13 ) .
FOOTNOTES:

F3 (dyal) "ad calamitatem", Schultens; "ob calamitatem", Cocceius; "calamitate", Junius & Tremellius, Piscator.

Proverbs 17:5 In-Context

3 The crucible for silver and the furnace for gold, but the LORD tests the heart.
4 A wicked person listens to deceitful lips; a liar pays attention to a destructive tongue.
5 Whoever mocks the poor shows contempt for their Maker; whoever gloats over disaster will not go unpunished.
6 Children’s children are a crown to the aged, and parents are the pride of their children.
7 Eloquent lips are unsuited to a godless fool— how much worse lying lips to a ruler!

Cross References 4

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