Bible Verses about Poverty
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Compiled by The BibleStudyTools Staff
on 06/16/2026
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If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person?
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Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.
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The LORD sends poverty and wealth; he humbles and he exalts.
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He raises the poor from the dust and lifts the needy from the ash heap; he seats them with princes and has them inherit a throne of honor. “For the foundations of the earth are the LORD’s; on them he has set the world.
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Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment.
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Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share.
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In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life.
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And now, brothers and sisters, we want you to know about the grace that God has given the Macedonian churches.
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In the midst of a very severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity.
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For I testify that they gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability. Entirely on their own,
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they urgently pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing in this service to the Lord’s people.
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And they exceeded our expectations: They gave themselves first of all to the Lord, and then by the will of God also to us.
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For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich.
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Our desire is not that others might be relieved while you are hard pressed, but that there might be equality.
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At the present time your plenty will supply what they need, so that in turn their plenty will supply what you need. The goal is equality,
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as it is written: “The one who gathered much did not have too much, and the one who gathered little did not have too little.”
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You levy a straw tax on the poor and impose a tax on their grain. Therefore, though you have built stone mansions, you will not live in them; though you have planted lush vineyards, you will not drink their wine.
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For I know how many are your offenses and how great your sins. There are those who oppress the innocent and take bribes and deprive the poor of justice in the courts.
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Hear this, you who trample the needy and do away with the poor of the land,
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saying, “When will the New Moon be over that we may sell grain, and the Sabbath be ended that we may market wheat?”— skimping on the measure, boosting the price and cheating with dishonest scales,
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buying the poor with silver and the needy for a pair of sandals, selling even the sweepings with the wheat.
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If anyone is poor among your fellow Israelites in any of the towns of the land the LORD your God is giving you, do not be hardhearted or tightfisted toward them.
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Rather, be openhanded and freely lend them whatever they need.
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Be careful not to harbor this wicked thought: “The seventh year, the year for canceling debts, is near,” so that you do not show ill will toward the needy among your fellow Israelites and give them nothing. They may then appeal to the LORD against you, and you will be found guilty of sin.
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Give generously to them and do so without a grudging heart; then because of this the LORD your God will bless you in all your work and in everything you put your hand to.
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There will always be poor people in the land. Therefore I command you to be openhanded toward your fellow Israelites who are poor and needy in your land.
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If the neighbor is poor, do not go to sleep with their pledge in your possession.
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Return their cloak by sunset so that your neighbor may sleep in it. Then they will thank you, and it will be regarded as a righteous act in the sight of the LORD your God.
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Do not take advantage of a hired worker who is poor and needy, whether that worker is a fellow Israelite or a foreigner residing in one of your towns.
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Pay them their wages each day before sunset, because they are poor and are counting on it. Otherwise they may cry to the LORD against you, and you will be guilty of sin.
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When you are harvesting in your field and you overlook a sheaf, do not go back to get it. Leave it for the foreigner, the fatherless and the widow, so that the LORD your God may bless you in all the work of your hands.
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When you beat the olives from your trees, do not go over the branches a second time. Leave what remains for the foreigner, the fatherless and the widow.
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When you harvest the grapes in your vineyard, do not go over the vines again. Leave what remains for the foreigner, the fatherless and the widow.
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Remember that you were slaves in Egypt. That is why I command you to do this.
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Anyone who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with their own hands, that they may have something to share with those in need.
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“If you lend money to one of my people among you who is needy, do not treat it like a business deal; charge no interest.
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“For six years you are to sow your fields and harvest the crops,
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but during the seventh year let the land lie unplowed and unused. Then the poor among your people may get food from it, and the wild animals may eat what is left. Do the same with your vineyard and your olive grove.
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“ ‘Now this was the sin of your sister Sodom: She and her daughters were arrogant, overfed and unconcerned; they did not help the poor and needy.
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The people of the land practice extortion and commit robbery; they oppress the poor and needy and mistreat the foreigner, denying them justice.
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All they asked was that we should continue to remember the poor, the very thing I had been eager to do all along.
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And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.
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The LORD enters into judgment against the elders and leaders of his people: “It is you who have ruined my vineyard; the plunder from the poor is in your houses.
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What do you mean by crushing my people and grinding the faces of the poor?” declares the Lord, the LORD Almighty.
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Woe to those who make unjust laws, to those who issue oppressive decrees,
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to deprive the poor of their rights and withhold justice from the oppressed of my people, making widows their prey and robbing the fatherless.
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You have been a refuge for the poor, a refuge for the needy in their distress, a shelter from the storm and a shade from the heat. For the breath of the ruthless is like a storm driving against a wall
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“The poor and needy search for water, but there is none; their tongues are parched with thirst. But I the LORD will answer them; I, the God of Israel, will not forsake them.
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“Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke?
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Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter— when you see the naked, to clothe them, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?
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and if you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry and satisfy the needs of the oppressed, then your light will rise in the darkness, and your night will become like the noonday.
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Believers in humble circumstances ought to take pride in their high position.
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But the rich should take pride in their humiliation—since they will pass away like a wild flower.
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For the sun rises with scorching heat and withers the plant; its blossom falls and its beauty is destroyed. In the same way, the rich will fade away even while they go about their business.
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Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.
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My brothers and sisters, believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ must not show favoritism.
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Suppose a man comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and fine clothes, and a poor man in filthy old clothes also comes in.
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If you show special attention to the man wearing fine clothes and say, “Here’s a good seat for you,” but say to the poor man, “You stand there” or “Sit on the floor by my feet,”
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have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?
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Listen, my dear brothers and sisters: Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom he promised those who love him?
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But you have dishonored the poor. Is it not the rich who are exploiting you? Are they not the ones who are dragging you into court?
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Are they not the ones who are blaspheming the noble name of him to whom you belong?
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Now listen, you rich people, weep and wail because of the misery that is coming on you.
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Your wealth has rotted, and moths have eaten your clothes.
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Your gold and silver are corroded. Their corrosion will testify against you and eat your flesh like fire. You have hoarded wealth in the last days.
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Look! The wages you failed to pay the workers who mowed your fields are crying out against you. The cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord Almighty.
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You have lived on earth in luxury and self-indulgence. You have fattened yourselves in the day of slaughter.
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You have condemned and murdered the innocent one, who was not opposing you.
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and have grown fat and sleek. Their evil deeds have no limit; they do not seek justice. They do not promote the case of the fatherless; they do not defend the just cause of the poor.
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He defended the cause of the poor and needy, and so all went well. Is that not what it means to know me?” declares the LORD.
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“ ‘When you reap the harvest of your land, do not reap to the very edges of your field or gather the gleanings of your harvest.
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Do not go over your vineyard a second time or pick up the grapes that have fallen. Leave them for the poor and the foreigner. I am the LORD your God.
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“ ‘Do not pervert justice; do not show partiality to the poor or favoritism to the great, but judge your neighbor fairly.
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“ ‘When you reap the harvest of your land, do not reap to the very edges of your field or gather the gleanings of your harvest. Leave them for the poor and for the foreigner residing among you. I am the LORD your God.’ ”
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“ ‘If any of your fellow Israelites become poor and are unable to support themselves among you, help them as you would a foreigner and stranger, so they can continue to live among you.
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Do not take interest or any profit from them, but fear your God, so that they may continue to live among you.
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You must not lend them money at interest or sell them food at a profit.
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I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of Egypt to give you the land of Canaan and to be your God.
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He has brought down rulers from their thrones but has lifted up the humble.
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He has filled the hungry with good things but has sent the rich away empty.
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“What should we do then?” the crowd asked.
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John answered, “Anyone who has two shirts should share with the one who has none, and anyone who has food should do the same.”
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Looking at his disciples, he said: “Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God.
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“But woe to you who are rich, for you have already received your comfort.
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And he told them this parable: “The ground of a certain rich man yielded an abundant harvest.
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He thought to himself, ‘What shall I do? I have no place to store my crops.’
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“Then he said, ‘This is what I’ll do. I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store my surplus grain.
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And I’ll say to myself, “You have plenty of grain laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry.” ’
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“But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?’
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“This is how it will be with whoever stores up things for themselves but is not rich toward God.”
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Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will never fail, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys.
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For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
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But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind,
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and you will be blessed. Although they cannot repay you, you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.”
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“There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and lived in luxury every day.
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At his gate was laid a beggar named Lazarus, covered with sores
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and longing to eat what fell from the rich man’s table. Even the dogs came and licked his sores.
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“The time came when the beggar died and the angels carried him to Abraham’s side. The rich man also died and was buried.
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In Hades, where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side.
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So he called to him, ‘Father Abraham, have pity on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in agony in this fire.’
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“But Abraham replied, ‘Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, while Lazarus received bad things, but now he is comforted here and you are in agony.
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And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been set in place, so that those who want to go from here to you cannot, nor can anyone cross over from there to us.’
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“He answered, ‘Then I beg you, father, send Lazarus to my family,
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for I have five brothers. Let him warn them, so that they will not also come to this place of torment.’
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“Abraham replied, ‘They have Moses and the Prophets; let them listen to them.’
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“ ‘No, father Abraham,’ he said, ‘but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.’
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“He said to him, ‘If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.’ ”
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When Jesus heard this, he said to him, “You still lack one thing. Sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”
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“So I will come to put you on trial. I will be quick to testify against sorcerers, adulterers and perjurers, against those who defraud laborers of their wages, who oppress the widows and the fatherless, and deprive the foreigners among you of justice, but do not fear me,” says the LORD Almighty.
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Jesus sat down opposite the place where the offerings were put and watched the crowd putting their money into the temple treasury. Many rich people threw in large amounts.
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But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a few cents.
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Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, “Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others.
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They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything—all she had to live on.”
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“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
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“Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of others to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven.
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“So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full.
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But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing,
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so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.
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Jesus answered, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”
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For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in,
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I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’
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“Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink?
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When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you?
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When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’
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“The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’