Proverbs 22:23 (GNV)

Passage

For the Lord will defende their cause, and spoyle the soule of those that spoyle them.

Nearby Context

Proverbs 22:21 That I might shewe thee the assurance of the wordes of trueth to answere the wordes of trueth to them that sende to thee?

Proverbs 22:22 Robbe not the poore, because hee is poore, neither oppresse the afflicted in iudgement.

Proverbs 22:23 For the Lord will defende their cause, and spoyle the soule of those that spoyle them.

Proverbs 22:24 Make no friendship with an angrie man, neither goe with the furious man,

Proverbs 22:25 Least thou learne his wayes, and receiue destruction to thy soule.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "lord", "defende", "cause", "spoyle", and "soule". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "lord" and "defende", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 22's "Robbe not the poore because hee is..." into verse 24's "Make no friendship with an angrie man...", so "lord" and "defende" 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 "lord" and "defende" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.