Proverbs 28:8
King James Version
8 He that by usury and unjust gain
increaseth his substance,
he shall gather it for him that will pity the poor.
Beware the Shylocks of this world.
The one not shy of charging high interest.
Keeping people forever in debt.
Usurers could be a person.
They could be establishments.
What happens to all the money they've enriched themselves with?
What does "he shall gather it for him that will pity the poor" mean?
To get clearer, we explore other Bible versions:
Proverbs 28:8
American Standard Version
8 He that augmenteth his substance by interest and increase,
Gathereth it for him that hath pity on the poor.
Proverbs 28:8
Complete Jewish Bible
8 He who increases his wealth by charging exorbitant interest
amasses it for someone who will bestow it on the poor.
Proverbs 28:8
Contemporary English Version
8 If you make money by charging
high interest rates,
you will lose it all to someone
who cares for the poor.
Proverbs 28:8
Easy-to-Read Version
8 If you get rich by charging high interest rates, your wealth will go to someone who is kind to the poor.
Proverbs 28:8
Expanded Bible
8 Some people get rich by ·overcharging others [L interest and surcharge; Ex. 22:25; Deut. 23:20],
but their wealth will be given to those who are ·kind [gracious] to the poor.
Proverbs 28:8
International Children’s Bible
8 Some people get rich by overcharging others.
But their wealth will be given to those who are kind to the poor.
Proverbs 28:8
Living Bible
8 Income from exploiting the poor will end up in the hands of someone who pities them.
Proverbs 28:8
The Message
8 Get as rich as you want
through cheating and extortion,
But eventually some friend of the poor
is going to give it all back to them.
Proverbs 28:8
New Catholic Bible
8 Whoever increases his wealth by charging exorbitant interest[a]
amasses it for another who will be generous to the poor.
Proverbs 28:8
New International Reader's Version
8 Someone might get rich by taking interest or profit from poor people.
But that person only piles up wealth for someone who will be kind to poor people.
Proverbs 28:8
New International Version
8 Whoever increases wealth by taking interest or profit from the poor
amasses it for another, who will be kind to the poor.
Proverbs 28:8
New Living Translation
8 Income from charging high interest rates
will end up in the pocket of someone who is kind to the poor.
Proverbs 28:8
New Revised Standard Version, Anglicised
8 One who augments wealth by exorbitant interest
gathers it for another who is kind to the poor.
Mishle 28:8
Orthodox Jewish Bible
8 He that by neshekh (interest) and increase increaseth his substance, he shall gather it for him that will pity the dalim (poor ones).
Proverbs 28:8
The Voice
8 Anyone who increases his wealth by charging a high rate of interest
is only collecting it for another who will deal more liberally with the poor.
Proverbs 28:8
Young's Literal Translation
8 Whoso is multiplying his wealth by biting and usury, For one favouring the poor doth gather it.
In SUMMARY, "he shall gather it for him that will pity the poor" means:
Gathereth it for him that hath pity on the poor
amasses it for someone who will bestow it on the poor
you will lose it all to someone who cares for the poor
your wealth will go to someone who is kind to the poor
their wealth will be given to those who are ·kind [gracious] to the poor
their wealth will be given to those who are kind to the poor
will end up in the hands of someone who pities them
some friend of the poor is going to give it all back to them
amasses it for another who will be generous to the poor
that person only piles up wealth for someone who will be kind to poor people
amasses it for another, who will be kind to the poor
will end up in the pocket of someone who is kind to the poor
gathers it for another who is kind to the poor
he shall gather it for him that will pity the dalim (poor ones)
is only collecting it for another who will deal more liberally with the poor
one favouring the poor doth gather it
Related material:
Beggar Thy Neighbor: A History of Usury and Debt
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