Proverbs 28:27

The Message

Be generous to the poor—you’ll never go hungry; shut your eyes to their needs, and run a gauntlet of curses.

Cross References

Proverbs 11:24

The world of the generous gets larger and larger; the world of the stingy gets smaller and smaller.

Proverbs 11:25

The one who blesses others is abundantly blessed; those who help others are helped.

Proverbs 11:26

Curses on those who drive a hard bargain! Blessings on all who play fair and square!

Proverbs 19:17

Mercy to the needy is a loan to God, and God pays back those loans in full.

Proverbs 22:9

Generous hands are blessed hands because they give bread to the poor.

Proverbs 24:24

Whoever whitewashes the wicked gets a black mark in the history books, But whoever exposes the wicked will be thanked and rewarded.

Proverbs 28:28

When corruption takes over, good people go underground, but when the crooks are thrown out, it’s safe to come out.

Deuteronomy 15:10

Give freely and spontaneously. Don’t have a stingy heart. The way you handle matters like this triggers God, your God’s, blessing in everything you do, all your work and ventures. There are always going to be poor and needy people among you. So I command you: Always be generous, open purse and hands, give to your neighbors in trouble, your poor and hurting neighbors.

Deuteronomy 15:7

When you happen on someone who’s in trouble or needs help among your people with whom you live in this land that God, your God, is giving you, don’t look the other way pretending you don’t see him. Don’t keep a tight grip on your purse. No. Look at him, open your purse, lend whatever and as much as he needs. Don’t count the cost. Don’t listen to that selfish voice saying, “It’s almost the seventh year, the year of All-Debts-Are-Canceled,” and turn aside and leave your needy neighbor in the lurch, refusing to help him. He’ll call God’s attention to you and your blatant sin.

Hebrews 13:16

Make sure you don’t take things for granted and go slack in working for the common good; share what you have with others. God takes particular pleasure in acts of worship—a different kind of “sacrifice”—that take place in kitchen and workplace and on the streets.