Proverbs 17:5Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Douay-RheimsHebrew (Masoretic text)

He that despiseth the poor, reproacheth his maker: and he that rejoiceth at another man's ruin, shall not be unpunished.
Douay-Rheims

לֹעֵ֣ג לָ֭רָשׁ חֵרֵ֣ף עֹשֵׂ֑הוּ שָׂמֵ֥חַ לְ֝אֵ֗יד לֹ֣א יִנָּקֶֽה׃
Hebrew (Masoretic text)

The Church Fathers on this verse

One Church Father comments on this verse

Nikolaj Velimirovic

20th centuryChurch Father

He who mocks a naked and hungry soldier mocks his king. He who mocks a poor man shames the Creator of the poor. If you recognize that the Creator of the poor and your Creator are one and the same, you will not mock him. If you recognize that the poor man stands on the same battlefield as you, you will clothe him and make him your friend.

Cross references

Passages read together with this verse.

Prov 14:31He that oppresseth the poor, upbraideth his maker: but he that hath pity on the poor, honoureth him.
1 John 3:17He that hath the substance of this world and shall see his brother in need and shall shut up his bowels from him: how doth the charity of God abide in him?
Job 31:29If I have been glad at the downfall of him that hated me, and have rejoiced that evil had found him.
Prov 16:5Every proud man is an abomination to the Lord: though hand should be joined to hand, he is not innocent. The beginning of a good way is to do justice: and this is more acceptable with God, than to offer sacrifices.
Obad 1:11In the day when thou stoodest against him, when strangers carried away his army captive, and foreigners entered into his gates, and cast lots upon Jerusalem: thou also wast as one of them.
Obad 1:13Neither shalt thou enter into the gate of my people in the day of their ruin: neither shalt thou also look on in his evils in the day of his calamity: and thou shalt not be sent out against his army in the day of his desolation.
Prov 14:21He that despiseth his neighbour, sinneth: but he that sheweth mercy to the poor, shall be blessed. He that believeth in the Lord, loveth mercy.
Rom 12:15Rejoice with them that rejoice: weep with them that weep.