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NASB | Proverbs 28:8 He who increases his wealth by interest and usury Gathers it for him who is gracious to the poor. |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Proverbs 28:8 He who increases his wealth by interest and usury (excessive interest) Gathers it for him who is gracious to the poor. [Job 27:16, 17; Prov 13:22; Eccl 2:26] |
Bible Question:
I am having a hard time understanding the last half of Proverbs 28:8. How can a person who gets his wealth from usury and extortion gathers it for him who has pity on the poor? Doesn't that wealthy man have no interest of poor people? What does this verse mean? |
Bible Answer: I think this ties in with the story of Jesus and the rich man. The Rich man asked Jesus how he can reach heaven. Jesus replied that he should obey the law and the commandments. The rich man rpelied that he had. Then Jesus replies that the Rich man should give all his possessions to the poor and follow him. The Rich man couldn't cause he was wealthy. Jesus commented to the Disciples that it is easier for a Camel to enter the eye of a needle than a rich man to enter heaven. The idea of this verse and the passage in the gospels I just summarized is simple. A Wealthy person on average does not first care about the things of God. Instead, he is concerned about his wealth and how to make more. There is a unifying theme throughout the Bible that Wealth and power corrupts, forcing the Wealthy and Powerful to focus more on their money and authority and how they can get more than on to how they can best serve God with the money and power he gave them. Another unifying theme in the Bible is the care for the poor and less fortunate. Jesus himself said that when you help one of the poor, you also help him. I would say that this passage in Proverbs is reflecting the teachings and actions of Jesus. Jesusman |
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Questions and/or Subjects for Prov 28:8 | Author | ||
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seedling | ||
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Jesusman | ||
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mom7x | ||
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DocTrinsograce |