The Nugget:
Pro 19:17 He that hath pity upon the poor lendeth unto the LORD; and that which he hath given will he pay him again. (KJV)
Pro 19:17 The one who is gracious to the poor lends to the LORD, and the LORD will repay him for his good deed. (NET Bible)
Pro 19:17 He who has pity upon the poor lends to Jehovah, and He will reward his dealing to him. (MKJV)
Pro 19:17 He who has pity on the poor gives to the Lord, and the Lord will give him his reward. (BBE, Basic English Bible)
Pro 19:17 He that has pity on the poor lends to the Lord; and he will recompense to him according to his gift. (LXX, Brenton Translation)
Pro 19:17 When you give to the poor, it is like lending to the LORD, and the LORD will pay you back. (GNB, Good News Bible)
Pro 19:17 Giving help to the poor is like loaning money to the LORD. He will pay you back for your kindness. (ERV, Easy-to-Read Version)
Pro 19:17 Caring for the poor is lending to the LORD, and you will be well repaid. (CEV, Contemporary English Version)
MY COMMENT:
This is Post 1500!
Much insight can be gained by comparing different English translations. The CEV’s “Caring for the poor” reminds me of what the Bible teaches about caring. Others know you really care when you take time to really listen to them. Recall Paul’s statement about “the care of all the churches” (2 Corinthians 11:28).
“Giving help to the poor” (ERV) can be done in many ways, not always involving giving them money. Teaching students to work toward realistic life goals and career choices was one way I sought to help my students. I did this by having a class discussion about what it would cost to live on their own. When the students told me what the costs for rent, car or other transportation, food, clothing, and other necessities, the monthly total woke them up to reality. Then we realized we forgot to include taxes. My students were shocked into reality and on their own concluded that they no longer could afford to fool around about their education. When Career Day came, the presenters who came to speak to the students in my classroom, Room 317A at Denby High School in Detroit, commented they had never elsewhere encountered a classroom of students so well-mannered, who knew where they were going and exactly what they needed to do to get there.
“Being gracious to the poor” (NET Bible) is explained further in the NET Bible notes that “the activity here is the kind favor shown poor people for no particular reason and with no hope of repayment. It is literally an act of grace.” That reminds me of what our Lord Jesus Christ said as recorded at Luke 14:12, 13, 14,
Luk 14:12 Then said he also to him that bade him, When thou makest a dinner or a supper, call not thy friends, nor thy brethren, neither thy kinsmen, nor thy rich neighbours; lest they also bid thee again, and a recompence be made thee.
Luk 14:13 But when thou makest a feast, call the poor, the maimed, the lame, the blind:
Luk 14:14 And thou shalt be blessed; for they cannot recompense thee: for thou shalt be recompensed at the resurrection of the just. (KJV)
Luk 14:12 He said also to the man who had invited him, “When you host a dinner or a banquet, don’t invite your friends or your brothers or your relatives or rich neighbors so you can be invited by them in return and get repaid.
Luk 14:13 But when you host an elaborate meal, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, and the blind.
Luk 14:14 Then you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you, for you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.” (NET Bible)
DIG DEEPER INTO PROVERBS 19:17 BY READING AND STUDYING THE CROSS REFERENCES FROM:
A. The original Treasury of Scripture Knowledge:
Pro 19:17 He that hath pity upon the poor lendeth unto the LORD; and that which he hath given will he pay him again.
Proverbs 19:17
that hath: Pro 14:21, Pro 28:8, Pro 28:27; 2Sa 12:6; Ecc 11:1
lendeth: Pro 11:24, 25, Pro 28:27; Deut 15:7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14; Isa 58:7, 8, 9, 10, 11; Mat 10:41, 42, Mat 25:40; 2Co 9:6, 7, 8; Php 4:17; Heb 6:10
that which he hath given: or, his deed
B. The Ultimate Cross Reference Treasury:
Proverbs 19:17
hath pity. *Pro 14:21; Pro 28:8; Pro 28:27, *Deut 15:7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 2Sa 12:6, Psa 37:26, Ecc 11:1, Mat 25:34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, Luk 10:33, 34, 35, 36, 37; Luk 14:12, 13, 14, +*1Jn 3:17.
lendeth. *Pro 11:24; *Pro 11:25; *Pro 28:27, *Deut 15:7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, *Isa 58:7, 8, 9, 10, 11, *Mat 10:41; *Mat 10:42; *Mat 25:40, 2Co 9:6, 7, 8, Php 4:17, **Heb 6:10.
that which he hath given. or, his deed. Pro 12:14, Jdg 9:16, 2Ch 32:25, *2Co 9:6, 7, 8, 9.
pay him. Pro 6:31; Pro 13:21; Pro 20:22, Mat 10:42, Mat 16:27, +**Mrk 10:30, *Luk 6:38, Rom 11:35, 1Co 13:3, Ga 6:7, 8.