Proverbs 22:7 (GNV)

Passage

The rich ruleth the poore, and the borower is seruant to the man that lendeth.

Nearby Context

Proverbs 22:5 Thornes and snares are in the way of the frowarde: but he that regardeth his soule, will depart farre from them.

Proverbs 22:6 Teache a childe in the trade of his way, and when he is olde, he shall not depart from it.

Proverbs 22:7 The rich ruleth the poore, and the borower is seruant to the man that lendeth.

Proverbs 22:8 He that soweth iniquitie, shall reape affliction, and the rodde of his anger shall faile.

Proverbs 22:9 He that hath a good eye, he shalbe blessed: for he giueth of his bread vnto the poore.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "rich", "ruleth", "poore", "borower", "seruant", and "lendeth". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "rich" and "ruleth", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 6's "Teache a childe in the trade of..." into verse 8's "He that soweth iniquitie shall reape affliction...", so "rich" and "ruleth" 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 "rich" and "ruleth" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.