Bible Strands
Proverbs 17:5
He who mocks the poor insults their Maker; whoever gloats over calamity will not go unpunished.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The text presents a wisdom saying, likely from a teacher addressing a community, placed within a chapter contrasting righteous and wicked conduct.
The words — The Hebrew לֹעֵ֣ג (lo'eg) literally means "mocks" or "scoffs," and שָׂמֵ֥חַ (saMeach) means "joyful" or "gloats," both describing attitudes toward suffering.
The thread — This warning against mocking the poor and rejoicing in disaster echoes Proverbs 14:31 and aligns with the self-examination in Job 31:29.
Why it lands — The passage demands immediate rejection of schadenfreude and calls for reverence toward God by treating vulnerable people with dignity.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
Whoso mocketh the poor reproacheth his Maker: and he that is glad at calamities shall not be unpunished.
Cross-references
- Proverbs 14:31 Whoever oppresses the poor taunts their Maker, but whoever is kind to the needy honors Him.
- Job 31:29 If I have rejoiced in my enemy’s ruin, or exulted when evil befell him—
- Obadiah 1:11 On the day you stood aloof while strangers carried off his wealth and foreigners entered his gate and cast lots for Jerusalem, you were just like one of them.
- 1 John 3:17 If anyone with earthly possessions sees his brother in need, but withholds his compassion from him, how can the love of God abide in him?
- Proverbs 14:21 He who despises his neighbor sins, but blessed is he who shows kindness to the poor.
- Proverbs 16:5 Everyone who is proud in heart is detestable to the LORD; be assured that he will not go unpunished.
- Proverbs 24:17 Do not gloat when your enemy falls, and do not let your heart rejoice when he stumbles,
- Romans 12:15 Rejoice with those who rejoice; weep with those who weep.
- Psalms 69:9 because zeal for Your house has consumed me, and the insults of those who insult You have fallen on me.
- Jeremiah 17:16 But I have not run away from being Your shepherd; I have not desired the day of despair. You know that the utterance of my lips was spoken in Your presence.