Proverbs has little favorable to say about the rich; its sympathies lie more with the poor people who are so often disadvantaged.

“The poor is disliked even by his neighbor”: “The poor”, as in 10.15, refers to people who lack the material necessities for an adequate standard of living. “Disliked” is literally “hated,” and the literal form may be more appropriate in this context. The poor may be hated because they beg from their neighbors, who may also have little. “Even” serves to focus or intensify the nature of those who hate the poor. For “neighbor” see 3.28. Good News Translation is a good model translation for this line.

“But the rich has many friends”: This line clearly contrasts with the first. “The rich” refers to those who have more than enough material goods. In some languages such people are called “people with many loads,” “the big metal people,” or “people with food on their faces.” “Friends” is literally “lovers” and refers to “fair-weather friends,” that is, persons who attach themselves to someone in order to profit from the relationship as long as the money lasts. See also 19.4.

Quoted with permission from Reyburn, William D. and Fry, Euan McG. A Handbook on Proverbs. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2000. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .