Proverbs 19:7

“All the brethren of the poor do hate him, etc.] They despise him on account of his poverty; they neglect him, and do not take care of him; they reckon him a reproach unto them, and do not choose to own him; all which may be interpreted an hatred of him; how much more do his friends go far from him? or “his friend”, every one of his friends; or “his neighbour”f541: for if his brethren, who are his own flesh and blood, show so much disrespect unto him; much more will those who are only his neighbours, or were in friendship with him while in prosperity; these wilt stand at a distance from him, and not come near him, now he is poor and in distress; (see <181913>Job 19:13,14); he pursueth [them…”

“It seems best to follow the Vulgate in taking the last clause as a separate maxim, He who pursues words, nought are they; i. e., the fair speeches and promises of help come to nothing. A various reading in the Hebrew gives, “he pursues after words, and these he shall have” - i. e., these, and nothing else. This and other like maxims do not in reality cast scorn and shame on a state which Christ has pronounced “blessed.” Side by side with them is Proverbs 19:1, setting forth the honor of an upright poverty. But as there is an honorable poverty, so there is one which is altogether inglorious, caused by sloth and folly, leading to shame and ignominy, and it is well that the man who wishes to…”

“Brethren - His nearest relations. Hate - Despise and shun him. Pursueth - Earnestly imploring their pity. Proverbs 19:10”

“the brethren: Pro 19:4, Pro 14:20; Psa 38:11, Psa 88:8, Psa 88:18; Ecc 9:15, Ecc 9:16; Jam 2:6 he: Pro 21:13; Luk 18:38-40 yet: Pro 18:23; Jam 2:15, Jam 2:16; Jo1 3:17, Jo1 3:18 Proverbs 19:8”

“7ab. We thus first confine our attention to these two lines - All the brethren of the poor hate him; How much more do his friends withdraw themselves from him? Regarding אף כּי, quanto magis, vid., at Pro 11:31; Pro 15:11; Pro 17:7. In a similar connection Pro 14:20 spake of hatred, i.e., the cooling of love, and the manifesting of this coldness. The brethren who thus show themselves here, unlike the friend who has become a brother, according to Pro 17:17, are brothers-german, including kindred by blood relation. כּל has Mercha, and is thus without the Makkeph, as at Psa 35:10 (vid., the Masora in Baer's Liber Psalmorum, 1861, p. 133). Kimchi (Michlol 205a), Norzi, and others think that cāl…”