Proverbs 14:20

“Whoso curseth his father or his mother, etc.] This is dreadful indeed! a person must be got to a great pitch of wickedness to do this; to curse his parents, one or other of them, that have been the instruments of his being, and by whom he has been brought up and put out into the world; to slight them, despise them, and mock at them, is highly base and criminal, but to curse them is shocking! what can such expect but the curse of God upon them? his lamp shall be put out in obscure darkness; he shall be deprived of his natural sight; (see <203017>Proverbs 30:17); or the very light of nature shall be extinct in him; and indeed such an one acts as if not guided by it, nor under its influence; or…”

“This sad but true picture of human nature is not given approvingly, but only as a fact.”

“The maxim, jarring as it is, represents the generalization of a wide experience; but the words which follow Proverbs 14:21 show that it is not to be taken by itself. In spite of all the selfish morality of mere prudence, the hearer is warned that to despise his “neighbor” (Christians must take the word in all the width given to it by the parable of the Good Samaritan) is to sin. The fullness of blessing comes on him who sees in the poor the objects of his mercy. return to 'Top of Page'”

“Hated - Despised and abandoned. Proverbs 14:21”

“14:20 This proverb might commend moderation, having neither too little nor too much (30:7-9).”

“poor: Pro 10:15, Pro 19:7; Job 6:21-23, Job 19:13, Job 19:14, Job 30:10 but: Pro 19:4, Pro 19:6; Est 3:2, Est 5:10, Est 5:11 the rich hath many friends: Heb. many are the lovers of the rich. Proverbs 14:21”

“Three proverbs on the hatred of men: 20 The poor is hated even by his neighbour; But of those who love the rich there are many. This is the old history daily repeating itself. Among all people is the saying and the complaint: Donec eris felix multos numerabis amicos, Tempora si fuerint nubilia solus eris. (Note: Ovid, Trist. i. 8.) The Book of Proverbs also speaks of this lamentable phenomenon. It is a part of the dark side of human nature, and one should take notice of it, so that when it goes well with him, he may not regard his many friends as all genuine, and when he becomes poor, he may not be surprised by the dissolution of earlier friendship, but may value so much the higher…”