22:16
In Hebrew, this verse has two parallel lines. They have been divided into three lines here to show the relationships more clearly.
16a Oppressing the poor to enrich oneself
16b or giving gifts to the rich
16c will surely lead to poverty.
There are three main ways to interpret this verse:
(1) There are two different strategies for becoming wealthier. One strategy is to oppress the poor. The other is to give gifts to the rich. Both strategies will fail. For example:
Whoever oppresses the poor to increase his own wealth, or gives to the rich, will only come to poverty. (English Standard Version)
(2) Oppressing the poor makes them rich. Giving gifts to the rich makes them poor. For example:
Harsh treatment enriches the poor, but a gift impoverishes the rich. (New Jerusalem Bible)
(3) A person who oppresses the poor becomes wealthier. A person who gives gifts to the rich becomes poor. For example:
Oppression of the poor brings gain, but giving to the rich leads only to penury. (Revised English Bible)
It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1), along with most versions.
There are several variations of this interpretation:
• Some versions, such as the New International Version, refer to different people who do different things and who both become poor.
• Other versions, such as the English Standard Version, refer to one person who does either or both things and who becomes poor.
• Still other versions refer to two different actions or strategies that both result in poverty. These strategies could be used by the same person or by different people. For example:
Oppressing the poor for profit or giving to the rich certainly leads to poverty. (God’s Word)
You may use any of these variations in your translation.
22:16a
Oppressing the poor to enrich oneself: This line refers to a person who causes hardship to poor people in order to make himself wealthier. Oppressing them by not paying them fair wages, by cheating them, or by charging them high rates of interest. Some other ways to translate this line are:
Cheat the poor to make profit (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
Whoever mistreats the poor in order to get rich
22:16b
or giving gifts to the rich: It is implied from the first line that the person who gives gifts to the rich intends to benefit himself. These gifts may be bribes to win a business contract. They may also be gifts that are intended to gain the help and favor of the rich. Some other ways to translate this line are:
or gives gifts to the rich— (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
and whoever bribes the rich ⌊to gain their help⌋
22:16c
will surely lead to poverty: In Hebrew, this phrase is literally “only to poverty/lack.” You may translate it so that it refers to a person or persons who become poor, as in the New International Version, or English Standard Version. You may also translate it so that it refers to actions that result in poverty or loss, as in the God’s Word or the Contemporary English Version. Here is another way to translate this:
either way you lose (Contemporary English Version)
General Comment on 22:16a–c
In some languages, it may be more natural to reorder the parts of this verse. For example:
If you make gifts to rich people or oppress the poor to get rich, you will become poor yourself. (Good News Translation)
See also 22:16a–c (combined/reordered) in the Display.
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