Proverbs 13:7
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One pretends to be rich, but has nothing; another pretends to be poor, yet has great wealth.
Commentaries
Excerpts gathered from published commentaries to ground the reading.
Two proverbs of riches and poverty: - There is one who maketh himself rich and hath nothing; There is another who representeth himself poor amid great riches. A sentence which includes in itself the judgment which Pro 12:9 expresses. To the Hithpa. התכּבּד (to make oneself of importance) there are associated here two others, in the meaning to make oneself something, without anything after it, thus to place oneself so or so, Ewald, 124a. To the clauses with ו there is supplied a self-intelligible לּו.
Open source ↗This observation is applicable, I. To men's worldly estate. The world is a great cheat, not only the things of the world, but the men of the world. All men are liars. Here is an instance in two sore evils under the sun: - 1. Some that are really poor would be thought to be rich and are thought to be so; they trade and spend as if they were rich, make a great bustle and a great show as if they had hidden treasures, when perhaps, if all their debts were paid, they are not worth a groat. This is sin, and will be shame; many a one hereby ruins his family and brings reproach upon his profession of religion. Those that thus live above what they have choose to be subject to their own pride rather than to God's providence, and it will end accordingly. 2. Some that are really rich would be thought to be poor, and are thought to be so, because they sordidly and meanly live below what God has given them, and choose rather to bury it than to use it, Ecc 6:1, Ecc 6:2. In this there is an ingratitude to God, injustice to the family and neighbourhood, and uncharitableness to the poor. II. To their spiritual state. Grace is the riches of the soul; it is true riches; but men commonly misrepresent themselves, either designedly or through mistake and ignorance of themselves. 1. There are many presuming hypocrites, that are really poor and empty of grace and yet either think themselves rich, and will not be convinced of their poverty, or pretend themselves rich, and will not own their poverty. 2. There are many timorous trembling Christians, that are spiritually rich, and full of grace, and yet think themselves poor, and will not be persuaded that they are rich, or, at least, will not own it; by their doubts and fears, their complaints and griefs, they make themselves poor. The former mist…
Open source ↗13:7 Appearances do not always reflect reality.
Open source ↗Original language
The Hebrew and Greek words behind this passage, with Strong's numbers — from openscriptures (CC BY-SA).
Cross-references
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You say, ‘I am rich; I have grown wealthy and need nothing.’ But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind, and naked.
One gives freely, yet gains even more; another withholds what is right, only to become poor.
Better to be lightly esteemed yet have a servant, than to be self-important but lack food.
sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; poor, yet making many rich; having nothing, and yet possessing everything.
Listen, my beloved brothers: Has not God chosen the poor of this world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom He promised those who love Him?
This is how it will be for anyone who stores up treasure for himself but is not rich toward God.”
Dishonest wealth will dwindle, but what is earned through hard work will be multiplied.
Now we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this surpassingly great power is from God and not from us.
They promise them freedom, while they themselves are slaves to depravity. For a man is a slave to whatever has mastered him.
Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide yourselves with purses that will not wear out, an inexhaustible treasure in heaven, where no thief approaches and no moth destroys.