Best matchSirach 13:3–4
3 The rich man does a wrong and threatens. The poor is wronged and apologizes. (WEB) 4 If you are profitable, he will exploit you. If you are in need, he will forsake you. (WEB)
Bible passages about “the rich exploiting the poor”
Curated semantic-search results from the Bible and early Jewish and Christian writings. These passages are drawn from a current, full-corpus deep search.
Top matching passages
Sirach 13:19–24
19 Wild donkeys are the prey of lions in the wilderness; likewise poor men are feeding grounds for the rich. (WEB) 20 Lowliness is an abomination to a proud man; likewise a poor man is an abomination to the rich. (WEB) 21 When a rich man is shaken, he is supported by his friends, but when the humble is down, he is pushed away even by his friends. (WEB) 22 When a rich man falls, there are many helpers. He speaks things not to be spoken, and men justify him. A humble man falls, and men rebuke him. He utters wisdom, and is not listened to. (WEB) 23 A rich man speaks, and all keep silence. They extol what he says to the clouds. A poor man speaks, and they say, “Who is this?” If he stumbles, they will help to overthrow him. (WEB) 24 Riches are good if they have no sin. Poverty is evil only in the opinion of the ungodly. (WEB)
Proverbs 22:16
16 Oppressing the poor to enrich oneself or giving gifts to the rich will surely lead to poverty.
Proverbs 22:7
7 The rich rule over the poor, and the borrower is slave to the lender.
Proverbs 22:22
22 Do not rob a poor man because he is poor, and do not crush the afflicted at the gate,
Job 20:19
19 For he has oppressed and forsaken the poor; he has seized houses he did not build.
Amos 8:4–6
4 Hear this, you who trample the needy, who do away with the poor of the land, 5 asking, “When will the New Moon be over, that we may sell grain? When will the Sabbath end, that we may market wheat? Let us reduce the ephah and increase the shekel; let us cheat with dishonest scales. 6 Let us buy the poor with silver and the needy for a pair of sandals, selling even the chaff with the wheat!”
James 2:3–6
3 If you lavish attention on the man in fine clothes and say, “Here is a seat of honor,” but say to the poor man, “You must stand” or “Sit at my feet,” 4 have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts? 5 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? 6 But you have dishonored the poor. Is it not the rich who oppress you and drag you into court?
Job 24:3–10
3 They drive away the donkey of the fatherless and take the widow’s ox in pledge. 4 They push the needy off the road and force all the poor of the land into hiding. 5 Indeed, like wild donkeys in the desert, the poor go to work foraging for food; the wasteland is food for their children. 6 They gather fodder in the fields and glean the vineyards of the wicked. 7 Without clothing, they spend the night naked; they have no covering against the cold. 8 Drenched by mountain rains, they huddle against the rocks for want of shelter. 9 The fatherless infant is snatched from the breast; the nursing child of the poor is seized for a debt. 10 Without clothing, they wander about naked. They carry the sheaves, but still go hungry.
Proverbs 28:8–11
8 He who increases his wealth by interest and usury lays it up for one who is kind to the poor. 9 Whoever turns his ear away from hearing the law, even his prayer is detestable. 10 He who leads the upright along the path of evil will fall into his own pit, but the blameless will inherit what is good. 11 A rich man is wise in his own eyes, but a poor man with discernment sees through him.
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