Proverbs 22:22
New International Version
Do not exploit the poor because they are poor and do not crush the needy in court,

New Living Translation
Don’t rob the poor just because you can, or exploit the needy in court.

English Standard Version
Do not rob the poor, because he is poor, or crush the afflicted at the gate,

Berean Standard Bible
Do not rob a poor man because he is poor, and do not crush the afflicted at the gate,

King James Bible
Rob not the poor, because he is poor: neither oppress the afflicted in the gate:

New King James Version
Do not rob the poor because he is poor, Nor oppress the afflicted at the gate;

New American Standard Bible
Do not rob the poor because he is poor, Nor crush the needy at the gate;

NASB 1995
Do not rob the poor because he is poor, Or crush the afflicted at the gate;

NASB 1977
Do not rob the poor because he is poor, Or crush the afflicted at the gate;

Legacy Standard Bible
Do not rob the poor because he is poor, And do not crush the afflicted at the gate;

Amplified Bible
Do not rob the poor because he is poor [and defenseless], Nor crush the afflicted [by legal proceedings] at the gate [where the city court is held],

Christian Standard Bible
Don’t rob a poor person because he is poor, and don’t crush the oppressed at the city gate,

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Don’t rob a poor man because he is poor, and don’t crush the oppressed at the gate,

American Standard Version
Rob not the poor, because he is poor; Neither oppress the afflicted in the gate:

Contemporary English Version
Don't take advantage of the poor or cheat them in court.

English Revised Version
Rob not the poor, because he is poor, neither oppress the afflicted in the gate:

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Do not rob the poor because they are poor or trample on the rights of an oppressed person at the city gate,

Good News Translation
Don't take advantage of the poor just because you can; don't take advantage of those who stand helpless in court.

International Standard Version
Don't rob the poor person because he is poor, and don't crush the helpless in court,

Majority Standard Bible
Do not rob a poor man because he is poor, and do not crush the afflicted at the gate,

NET Bible
Do not exploit a poor person because he is poor and do not crush the needy in court,

New Heart English Bible
Do not exploit the poor, because he is poor; and do not crush the needy in court;

Webster's Bible Translation
Rob not the poor, because he is poor: neither oppress the afflicted in the gate:

World English Bible
Don’t exploit the poor because he is poor; and don’t crush the needy in court;
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
Do not rob the poor because he [is] poor, "" And do not bruise the afflicted in the gate.

Young's Literal Translation
Rob not the poor because he is poor, And bruise not the afflicted in the gate.

Smith's Literal Translation
Thou shalt not strip the poor because he is poor: and thou shalt not crush the humble in the gate.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Do no violence to the poor, because he is poor: and do not oppress the needy in the gate:

Catholic Public Domain Version
Do not act with violence toward the pauper because he is poor. And do not weary the needy at the gate.

New American Bible
Do not rob the poor because they are poor, nor crush the needy at the gate;

New Revised Standard Version
Do not rob the poor because they are poor, or crush the afflicted at the gate;
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Do not oppress the poor because he is poor; neither afflict the needy in the gate.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
Do not oppress the poor because he is poor and do not humiliate the afflicted one in the gate.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
Rob not the weak, because he is weak, Neither crush the poor in the gate;

Brenton Septuagint Translation
Do no violence to the poor, for he is needy: neither dishonour the helpless man in the gates.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Thirty Sayings of the Wise
21to show you true and reliable words, that you may soundly answer those who sent you? 22Do not rob a poor man because he is poor, and do not crush the afflicted at the gate, 23for the LORD will take up their case and will plunder those who rob them.…

Cross References
Exodus 23:6
You shall not deny justice to the poor in their lawsuits.

Isaiah 10:1-2
Woe to those who enact unjust statutes and issue oppressive decrees, / to deprive the poor of fair treatment and withhold justice from the oppressed of My people, to make widows their prey and orphans their plunder.

Jeremiah 22:3
This is what the LORD says: Administer justice and righteousness. Rescue the victim of robbery from the hand of his oppressor. Do no wrong or violence to the foreigner, the fatherless, or the widow. Do not shed innocent blood in this place.

Amos 5:11-12
Therefore, because you trample on the poor and exact from him a tax of grain, you will never live in the stone houses you have built; you will never drink the wine from the lush vineyards you have planted. / For I know that your transgressions are many and your sins are numerous. You oppress the righteous by taking bribes; you deprive the poor of justice in the gate.

Micah 2:1-2
Woe to those who devise iniquity and plot evil on their beds! At morning’s light they accomplish it because the power is in their hands. / They covet fields and seize them; they take away houses. They deprive a man of his home, a fellow man of his inheritance.

Zechariah 7:9-10
“This is what the LORD of Hosts says: ‘Administer true justice. Show loving devotion and compassion to one another. / Do not oppress the widow or the fatherless, the foreigner or the poor. And do not plot evil in your hearts against one another.’

Malachi 3:5
“Then I will draw near to you for judgment. And I will be a swift witness against sorcerers and adulterers and perjurers, against oppressors of the widowed and fatherless, and against those who defraud laborers of their wages and deny justice to the foreigner but do not fear Me,” says the LORD of Hosts.

Psalm 82:3-4
Defend the cause of the weak and fatherless; uphold the rights of the afflicted and oppressed. / Rescue the weak and needy; save them from the hand of the wicked.

Psalm 72:4
May he vindicate the afflicted among the people; may he save the children of the needy and crush the oppressor.

Job 5:15-16
He saves the needy from the sword in their mouth and from the clutches of the powerful. / So the poor have hope, and injustice shuts its mouth.

James 2:5-6
Listen, my beloved brothers: Has not God chosen the poor of this world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom He promised those who love Him? / But you have dishonored the poor. Is it not the rich who oppress you and drag you into court?

Matthew 23:14
Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You shut the kingdom of heaven in men’s faces. You yourselves do not enter, nor will you let in those who wish to enter.

Luke 20:46-47
“Beware of the scribes. They like to walk around in long robes, and they love the greetings in the marketplaces, the chief seats in the synagogues, and the places of honor at banquets. / They defraud widows of their houses, and for a show make lengthy prayers. These men will receive greater condemnation.”

Luke 3:14
Then some soldiers asked him, “And what should we do?” “Do not take money by force or false accusation,” he said. “Be content with your wages.”

1 John 3:17
If anyone with earthly possessions sees his brother in need, but withholds his compassion from him, how can the love of God abide in him?


Treasury of Scripture

Rob not the poor, because he is poor: neither oppress the afflicted in the gate:

rob

Proverbs 23:10
Remove not the old landmark; and enter not into the fields of the fatherless:

Ezekiel 22:29
The people of the land have used oppression, and exercised robbery, and have vexed the poor and needy: yea, they have oppressed the stranger wrongfully.

oppress

Proverbs 21:16
The man that wandereth out of the way of understanding shall remain in the congregation of the dead.

Exodus 23:6
Thou shalt not wrest the judgment of thy poor in his cause.

Job 29:12-16
Because I delivered the poor that cried, and the fatherless, and him that had none to help him…

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Proverbs 22
1. A good name is more desirable than great wealth














Do not rob a poor man because he is poor, and crush not the afflicted at the gate
Do not rob
The Hebrew word for "rob" is "גָּזַל" (gazal), which implies taking something by force or deceit. In the ancient Near Eastern context, robbery was not just a physical act but a moral violation against God's commandments. The directive here is clear: believers are called to uphold justice and righteousness, reflecting God's character. This commandment aligns with the broader biblical principle of loving one's neighbor and acting with integrity.

a poor man
The term "poor" in Hebrew is "עָנִי" (ani), which refers to those who are economically disadvantaged or oppressed. In biblical times, the poor were often marginalized and lacked the means to defend themselves. The Bible consistently emphasizes God's concern for the poor, urging His people to protect and provide for them. This reflects the heart of God, who is described as a defender of the weak and a provider for those in need.

because he is poor
This phrase highlights the vulnerability of the poor, who are often targeted precisely because of their lack of resources and power. The admonition here is against exploiting someone's weakness for personal gain. It serves as a reminder that God's justice is impartial and that He holds His people to a standard of fairness and compassion, regardless of societal status.

and crush not
The Hebrew word "דָּכָא" (daka) means to crush or oppress. This term conveys a sense of violence and injustice, often used in the context of social and legal oppression. The Bible frequently condemns such actions, calling believers to be agents of justice and mercy. This command underscores the importance of using one's power and influence to uplift rather than oppress.

the afflicted
The word "afflicted" in Hebrew is "עָנִי" (ani), similar to "poor," but it can also imply those who are suffering or in distress. The afflicted are those who are burdened by life's circumstances, whether through poverty, illness, or social injustice. Scripture repeatedly calls for the protection and support of the afflicted, reflecting God's compassion and desire for His people to act as His hands and feet in the world.

at the gate
In ancient Israel, the "gate" was not just a physical entryway but a place of legal and social transactions. It was where elders and leaders gathered to make decisions and administer justice. The phrase "at the gate" signifies the public and communal aspect of justice. It serves as a reminder that God's people are called to uphold righteousness in all areas of life, ensuring that justice is accessible to all, especially the marginalized and oppressed.

5. FIRST APPENDIX TO THE "PROVERBS OF SOLOMON" (Proverbs 10:1 to Proverbs 22:16), CONTAINING PROVERBS OF DIFFERENT LENGTHS, FROM THE DISTICH TO THE LENGTHENED DIDACTIC POEM (Proverbs 22:22 to Proverbs 24:22).

(22) Neither oppress the afflicted in the gate.--The place of business (Genesis 34:20) and of judgment (Deuteronomy 21:19; Amos 5:15). (Comp. the title, "the Sublime Porte.") This, with the following Proverbs 22:23, forms a tetrastich or verse of four lines, as do also Proverbs 22:24-25. . . .

Verse 22-ch. 24:22. - Here commence the "words of the wise." Verse 22. - This and the following verse form a terrastich, which connects itself in thought with ver. 16. Rob not the poor, because he is poor. The word for "poor" is here dal, which means "feeble," "powerless" (see on Proverbs 19:4), and the writer enjoins the disciple not to be induced by his weakness to injure and despoil a poor man. Neither oppress the afflicted in the gate. The gate is the place of judgment, the court of justice (comp. Job 31:21). The warning points to the particular form of wrong inflicted on the lowly by unjust judges, who could give sentences from which, however iniquitous, there was practically no appeal.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
Do not
אַֽל־ (’al-)
Adverb
Strong's 408: Not

rob
תִּגְזָל־ (tiḡ·zāl-)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular
Strong's 1497: To pluck off, to flay, strip, rob

a poor
דָּ֭ל (dāl)
Adjective - masculine singular construct
Strong's 1800: Dangling, weak, thin

man because
כִּ֣י (kî)
Conjunction
Strong's 3588: A relative conjunction

he
ה֑וּא (hū)
Pronoun - third person masculine singular
Strong's 1931: He, self, the same, this, that, as, are

is poor,
דַל־ (ḏal-)
Adjective - masculine singular
Strong's 1800: Dangling, weak, thin

and do not
וְאַל־ (wə·’al-)
Conjunctive waw | Adverb
Strong's 408: Not

crush
תְּדַכֵּ֖א (tə·ḏak·kê)
Verb - Piel - Imperfect - second person masculine singular
Strong's 1792: To crumble, to bruise

the afflicted
עָנִ֣י (‘ā·nî)
Adjective - masculine singular
Strong's 6041: Poor, afflicted, humble

at the gate,
בַשָּֽׁעַר׃ (ḇaš·šā·‘ar)
Preposition, Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 8179: An opening, door, gate


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OT Poetry: Proverbs 22:22 Don't exploit the poor because he (Prov. Pro Pr)
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