The man who gives to the poor never lacks, while the one who shuts his eyes gathers many curses.
The poor and the man who notices them return to focus in Proverbs 28:27: He who gives to the poor will never want, but he who shuts his eyes will have many curses (v. 27). Two responses to need are named.
He who gives to the poor will never want. The man who gives openly to the needy finds, paradoxically, that his own resources do not run out. Whether through divine provision or through the kindness of others responding to his generosity, his giving does not impoverish him. 2 Corinthians 9:8 makes the principle explicit: God can make all grace abound to the cheerful giver.
He who shuts his eyes will have many curses. The man who refuses to see the needy, who deliberately looks away from their condition, gathers curses. Both the poor and the LORD respond to the closed eye. The verse warns against the small but consequential decision to look away when generosity is called for.
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Proverbs 28:27 meaning
The poor and the man who notices them return to focus in Proverbs 28:27: He who gives to the poor will never want, but he who shuts his eyes will have many curses (v. 27). Two responses to need are named.
He who gives to the poor will never want. The man who gives openly to the needy finds, paradoxically, that his own resources do not run out. Whether through divine provision or through the kindness of others responding to his generosity, his giving does not impoverish him. 2 Corinthians 9:8 makes the principle explicit: God can make all grace abound to the cheerful giver.
He who shuts his eyes will have many curses. The man who refuses to see the needy, who deliberately looks away from their condition, gathers curses. Both the poor and the LORD respond to the closed eye. The verse warns against the small but consequential decision to look away when generosity is called for.