Key Verse Spotlight
Proverbs 18:23 - Meaning and Application
Understand how this verse speaks to what you're facing and how to apply it today
Translation: King James Version
" The poor useth intreaties; but the rich answereth roughly. "
Proverbs 18:23
Verse in Context
Understanding the surrounding verses prevents misinterpretation:
21 Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit
22 Whoso findeth a wife findeth a good thing, and obtaineth favour of the LORD.
23 The poor useth intreaties; but the rich answereth roughly.
24 A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.
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Poverty, though it brings many troubles to the body, often does good to the spirit. It makes people humble, willing to submit, and less proud. It teaches them to ask for help in a humble way. When need forces people to beg, they learn that they cannot make demands, but must accept what is given and be grateful.
The same lesson fits our approach to God’s grace. In God’s presence, we are all poor. We must come with humble requests, not as people who can make claims. We come as one who asks for mercy, like a pauper asking for charity.
A prosperous life has its benefits, but it often brings a serious danger. It can make people proud, harsh, and overbearing. The rich man may answer a poor person’s plea roughly, like Nabal, who insulted David’s messengers with rude words (1 Samuel 25:10-11).
It is foolish when rich people, especially those who once had little, think their wealth gives them the right to speak harshly. Even when they do not mean to act cruelly, they may still think rough speech suits their rank. But gentlemen, and all who are truly well-mannered, ought to be gentle and considerate (James 3:17).
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From This Chapter
Proverbs 18:1
"Through desire a man, having separated himself, seeketh and intermeddleth with all wisdom."
Proverbs 18:2
"A fool hath no delight in understanding, but that his heart may discover"
Proverbs 18:3
"When the wicked cometh, then cometh also contempt, and with ignominy reproach."
Proverbs 18:4
"The words of a man's mouth are as deep waters, and the wellspring of wisdom as a flowing brook."
Proverbs 18:5
"It is not good to accept the person of the wicked, to overthrow the righteous in judgment."
Proverbs 18:6
"A fool's lips enter into contention, and his mouth calleth for strokes."
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