Proverbs 28:27

Context

28:27 The one who gives to the poor will not lack,¹

but whoever shuts his eyes to them² will receive³ many curses.⁴

Proverbs 21:17

Context

21:17 The one who loves⁵ pleasure⁶ will be⁷ a poor person;⁸

whoever loves wine and anointing oil⁹ will not be rich.

[28:27] ¹sn The generous individual will be rewarded. He will not lack nor miss what he has given away to the poor.

[28:27] ²tn Heb “hides his eyes”; “to them” is supplied in the translation to indicate the link with the poor in the preceding line. Hiding or closing the eyes is a metonymy of cause or of adjunct, indicating a decision not to look on and thereby help the poor. It could also be taken as an implied comparison, i.e., not helping the poor is like closing the eyes to them.

[28:27] ³tn The term “receives” is not in the Hebrew text but is implied, and is supplied in the translation.

[28:27] ⁴sn The text does not specify the nature or the source of the curses. It is natural to think that they would be given by the poor who are being mistreated and ignored. Far from being praised for their contributions to society, selfish, stingy people will be reviled for their heartless indifference.

[21:17] ⁵sn The participle “loves” (אֹהֵב, ’ohev) indicates in this context that more is involved than the enjoyment of pleasure, for which there is no problem. The proverb is looking at “love” in the sense of needing and choosing, an excessive or uncontrolled indulgence in pleasure.

[21:17] ⁶sn “Pleasure” is actually the Hebrew word “joy” (שִׂמְחָה, simkhah). It is a metonymy of effect, the cause being the good life that brings the joy. In the second colon, “wine” and “oil” would be metonymies of cause, the particular things in life that bring joy. Therefore the figures in the lines work together to give the complete picture.

[21:17] ⁷tn The phrase “will be” is supplied in the translation.

[21:17] ⁸tn Heb “a man of poverty”; NRSV “will suffer want.”

[21:17] ⁹sn In elaborate feasts and celebrations the wine was for drinking but the oil was for anointing (cf. NAB, NCV “perfume”). Both of these characterize the luxurious life (e.g., Ps 23:5; 104:15; Amos 6:6).