Proverbs 17:5 (KJV)

Passage

Whoso mocketh the poor reproacheth his Maker: and he that is glad at calamities shall not be unpunished.

Nearby Context

Proverbs 17:3 The fining pot is for silver, and the furnace for gold: but the LORD trieth the hearts.

Proverbs 17:4 A wicked doer giveth heed to false lips; and a liar giveth ear to a naughty tongue.

Proverbs 17:5 Whoso mocketh the poor reproacheth his Maker: and he that is glad at calamities shall not be unpunished.

Proverbs 17:6 Children’s children are the crown of old men; and the glory of children are their fathers.

Proverbs 17:7 Excellent speech becometh not a fool: much less do lying lips a prince.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "whoso", "mocketh", "poor", "reproacheth", "maker", "glad", "calamities", and "shall". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "whoso" and "mocketh", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 4's "A wicked doer giveth heed to false..." into verse 6's "Children s children are the crown of...", so "whoso" and "mocketh" 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 "whoso" and "mocketh" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.