Poverty
The condition of lacking material resources, addressed with deep concern throughout Scripture. God identifies with the poor: 'Whoever is kind to the poor lends to the Lord' (Proverbs 19:17). Jesus began his ministry declaring good news to the poor (Luke 4:18) and said, 'Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God' (Luke 6:20). The law mandated provisions for the poor: gleaning rights (Leviticus 19:9-10), the sabbatical year (Deuteronomy 15:1-11), and Jubilee (Leviticus 25). James 2:5 states God has 'chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith.' Neglecting the poor is rejecting God himself (Proverbs 14:31).
Verses about Poverty
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Genesis 45:11
And there will I nourish thee; for yet there are five years of famine; lest thou, and thy household, and all that thou hast, come to poverty.
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Proverbs 6:11
So shall thy poverty come as one that travelleth, and thy want as an armed man.
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Proverbs 10:15
The rich man’s wealth is his strong city: the destruction of the poor is their poverty.
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Proverbs 11:24
There is that scattereth, and yet increaseth; and there is that withholdeth more than is meet, but it tendeth to poverty.
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Proverbs 13:18
Poverty and shame shall be to him that refuseth instruction: but he that regardeth reproof shall be honoured.
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Proverbs 20:13
Love not sleep, lest thou come to poverty; open thine eyes, and thou shalt be satisfied with bread.
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Proverbs 23:21
For the drunkard and the glutton shall come to poverty: and drowsiness shall clothe a man with rags.
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Proverbs 24:34
So shall thy poverty come as one that travelleth; and thy want as an armed man.
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Proverbs 28:19
He that tilleth his land shall have plenty of bread: but he that followeth after vain persons shall have poverty enough.
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Proverbs 28:22
He that hasteth to be rich hath an evil eye, and considereth not that poverty shall come upon him.
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Proverbs 30:8
Remove far from me vanity and lies: give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with food convenient for me:
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Proverbs 31:7
Let him drink, and forget his poverty, and remember his misery no more.
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2 Corinthians 8:2
How that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded unto the riches of their liberality.
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2 Corinthians 8:9
For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be ric…
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Revelation 2:9
I know thy works, and tribulation, and poverty, (but thou art rich) and I know the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews, and are not, but are th…