Proverbs 22:16 (ASV)

Passage

He that oppresseth the poor to increase his [gain], [And] he that giveth to the rich, [shall come] only to want.

Nearby Context

Proverbs 22:14 The mouth of strange women is a deep pit: He that is abhorred of Jehovah shall fall therein.

Proverbs 22:15 Foolishness is bound up in the heart of a child; [But] the rod of correction shall drive it far from him.

Proverbs 22:16 He that oppresseth the poor to increase his [gain], [And] he that giveth to the rich, [shall come] only to want.

Proverbs 22:17 Incline thine ear, and hear the words of the wise, And apply thy heart unto my knowledge.

Proverbs 22:18 For it is a pleasant thing if thou keep them within thee, If they be established together upon thy lips.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "oppresseth", "poor", "increase", "gain", "giveth", "rich", "shall", and "come". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "oppresseth" and "poor", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 15's "Foolishness is bound up in the heart..." into verse 17's "Incline thine ear and hear the words...", so "oppresseth" and "poor" belong inside that flow. In Proverbs context, the local focus is covenant, worship, and faithfulness.

A plain takeaway is to answer the verse's own emphasis on "oppresseth" and "poor" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.