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KING JAMES BIBLE · PCE

Proverbs 14:20–23

TEXT EDITION
Pure Cambridge Edition selected
The poor is hated even of his own neighbour: but the rich hath many friends.
He that despiseth his neighbour sinneth: but he that hath mercy on the poor, happy is he.
Do they not err that devise evil? but mercy and truth shall be to them that devise good.
In all labour there is profit: but the talk of the lips tendeth only to penury.
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PASSAGE SELECTION

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4 selected · 6 available

Choose up to 10 verses in this chapter. The study tools update with the selected passage.

SCRIPTURE WITH SCRIPTURE

Cross References

20 Essential passages are open for comparison.

Reference depth

From verse 20

  1. Proverbs 19:4Rank 1 from verse 20
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    4Wealth maketh many friends; but the poor is separated from his neighbour.

  2. Proverbs 10:15Rank 2 from verse 20
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    15The rich man’s wealth is his strong city: the destruction of the poor is their poverty.

  3. Job 30:10Rank 3 from verse 20
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    10They abhor me, they flee far from me, and spare not to spit in my face.

  4. Proverbs 19:6–7Rank 4 from verse 20
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    6Many will intreat the favour of the prince: and every man is a friend to him that giveth gifts.

    7All the brethren of the poor do hate him: how much more do his friends go far from him? he pursueth them with words, yet they are wanting to him.

  5. Esther 3:2Rank 5 from verse 20
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    2And all the king’s servants, that were in the king’s gate, bowed, and reverenced Haman: for the king had so commanded concerning him. But Mordecai bowed not, nor did him reverence.

From verse 21

  1. Proverbs 11:12Rank 1 from verse 21
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    12He that is void of wisdom despiseth his neighbour: but a man of understanding holdeth his peace.

  2. Proverbs 19:17Rank 2 from verse 21
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    17He that hath pity upon the poor lendeth unto the Lord; and that which he hath given will he pay him again.

  3. Proverbs 28:27Rank 3 from verse 21
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    27He that giveth unto the poor shall not lack: but he that hideth his eyes shall have many a curse.

  4. Proverbs 17:5Rank 4 from verse 21
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    5Whoso mocketh the poor reproacheth his Maker: and he that is glad at calamities shall not be unpunished.

  5. 1 John 3:17–22Rank 5 from verse 21
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    17But whoso hath this world’s good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?

    18My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.

    19And hereby we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before him.

    20For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things.

    21Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God.

    22And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight.

From verse 22

  1. Proverbs 12:2Rank 1 from verse 22
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    2A good man obtaineth favour of the Lord: but a man of wicked devices will he condemn.

  2. John 1:17Rank 2 from verse 22
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    17For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.

  3. Matthew 5:7Rank 3 from verse 22
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    7Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.

  4. Psalms 25:10Rank 4 from verse 22
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    10All the paths of the Lord are mercy and truth unto such as keep his covenant and his testimonies.

  5. 2 Chronicles 6:8Rank 5 from verse 22
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    8But the Lord said to David my father, Forasmuch as it was in thine heart to build an house for my name, thou didst well in that it was in thine heart:

From verse 23

  1. Proverbs 28:19Rank 1 from verse 23
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    19He that tilleth his land shall have plenty of bread: but he that followeth after vain persons shall have poverty enough.

  2. Proverbs 12:24Rank 2 from verse 23
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    24The hand of the diligent shall bear rule: but the slothful shall be under tribute.

  3. 2 Thessalonians 3:10–12Rank 3 from verse 23
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    10For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat.

    11For we hear that there are some which walk among you disorderly, working not at all, but are busybodies.

    12Now them that are such we command and exhort by our Lord Jesus Christ, that with quietness they work, and eat their own bread.

  4. Hebrews 6:10–11Rank 4 from verse 23
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    10For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have shewed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister.

    11And we desire that every one of you do shew the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end:

  5. Ecclesiastes 5:3Rank 5 from verse 23
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    3For a dream cometh through the multitude of business; and a fool’s voice is known by multitude of words.

WORDS IN THIS PASSAGE

Definitions

Open a word for its full definition and concordance.

DEFINED WORDS

Proverbs 14:20

COMBINED MEANING

hated

↗

Past-tense, participial, or adjectival form of hate, meaning to feel strong dislike, aversion, or enmity toward; in comparisons, to love less.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Webster 1828

COMBINED MEANING

even

↗

1. Used to emphasize, include, or precisely identify what is meant: indeed, precisely, or namely. 2. Used to mark a boundary, endpoint, or full reach in place, time, or degree: up to, as far as, or through. 3. In ‘even as,’ ‘even so,’ and like constructions, just as, exactly so, or in the same manner. 4. The evening, or close of day. 5. Equal, level, identical, balanced, or uniform.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

but

↗

Sense 1: However; marking contrast or qualification. Sense 2: Except or unless; excluding all others or alternatives. Sense 3: Only; no more than what follows.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Skeat 1893 · Webster 1828

COMBINED MEANING

rich

↗

Possessing abundance, wealth, resources, value, fruitfulness, or fullness.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

DEFINED WORDS

Proverbs 14:21

COMBINED MEANING

but

↗

Sense 1: However; marking contrast or qualification. Sense 2: Except or unless; excluding all others or alternatives. Sense 3: Only; no more than what follows.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Skeat 1893 · Webster 1828

COMBINED MEANING

mercy

↗

Compassion or pity shown to the distressed or guilty; kindness that withholds deserved harm.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

on

↗

1. At, upon, or in contact with the named place, object, side, or time. 2. Toward, against, concerning, depending upon, or directed to the named person or thing. 3. Forward or continuing; in joined expressions such as go on, put on, and lay hold on, the other words supply the particular action.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

DEFINED WORDS

Proverbs 14:22

COMBINED MEANING

err

↗

To stray, wander, depart, or be led away from the right way, truth, command, knowledge, or judgment; to be mistaken or wrong.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

devise

↗

To form, plan, purpose, design, or contrive in the mind; to arrange means or work for accomplishing an intended end, whether good or evil.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

evil

↗

Sense 1: Moral wickedness, sin, wrong, or corruption. Sense 2: Harm, misery, calamity, adversity, or punishment.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

but

↗

Sense 1: However; marking contrast or qualification. Sense 2: Except or unless; excluding all others or alternatives. Sense 3: Only; no more than what follows.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Skeat 1893 · Webster 1828

COMBINED MEANING

mercy

↗

Compassion or pity shown to the distressed or guilty; kindness that withholds deserved harm.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

truth

↗

1. That which is true; conformity to fact or reality. 2. Faithfulness. 3. God's revealed word.

Meaning drawn from: Direct Scripture definition · KJV context and cross-references · Webster 1828

COMBINED MEANING

shall

↗

An auxiliary verb expressing future action, intention, promise, command, requirement, or determination.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Webster 1828

COMBINED MEANING

good

↗

Sense 1: Right, morally upright, beneficial, pleasing, useful, suitable, sound, favourable, or excellent. Sense 2: A good thing, benefit, welfare, possession, or goods. Sense 3: In ‘make good,’ to repair, repay, fulfil, establish, or prove.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

DEFINED WORDS

Proverbs 14:23

COMBINED MEANING

in

↗

1. A preposition marking position, presence, state, circumstance, manner, means, sphere, reference, relation, association, or participation. 2. As an adverb, inward, inside, or into the place or position referred to.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

labour

↗

1. Work, toil, effort, exertion, service, or the product of work. 2. Weariness or trouble. 3. Travail in childbirth. 4. To work, strive, serve, or exert oneself.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

profit

↗

Sense 1: Benefit or advantage. Sense 2: To benefit, improve, or advance.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Webster 1828

COMBINED MEANING

but

↗

Sense 1: However; marking contrast or qualification. Sense 2: Except or unless; excluding all others or alternatives. Sense 3: Only; no more than what follows.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Skeat 1893 · Webster 1828

COMBINED MEANING

lips

↗

Sense 1: The physical borders of the mouth. Sense 2: By extension, speech or utterance.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

penury

↗

Poverty, want, destitution, or a condition of having very little or lacking necessary provision.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Webster 1828

READ THE PASSAGE

View in context

Nearby verses · passage boundary unavailable · Proverbs 14:19–24

The selected passage is highlighted. Context is a study aid.

14:19The evil bow before the good; and the wicked at the gates of the righteous.

14:20The poor is hated even of his own neighbour: but the rich hath many friends.

Selected passage

14:21He that despiseth his neighbour sinneth: but he that hath mercy on the poor, happy is he.

Selected passage

14:22Do they not err that devise evil? but mercy and truth shall be to them that devise good.

Selected passage

14:23In all labour there is profit: but the talk of the lips tendeth only to penury.

Selected passage

14:24The crown of the wise is their riches: but the foolishness of fools is folly.

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