Classic KJV - Proverbs 29:14

The poor are usually ignored by those with power and authority. They’re vulnerable to abuse, since they can’t afford legal or private protection. It’s counter-intuitive, but the state of the poor is really most decisive: it supports or undercuts the great and powerful, kings and presidents. There is a power higher than both the ruler and his poor: God Himself, who, despite his absolute power and sovereignty, redeems their humility in his glorious Creation and loving Providence.

Translation: Poor

The Hebrew word for poor in this verse, דּל (dāl, pronounced “dahl”), sometimes means financially poor, but it also extends to include the socially poor—the “humble”—with low status. When dāl is used in Exodus 23:3, it appears in the context of personal justice. Refer to Proverbs 28:3 and 21:13 for a fuller understanding of this important social class. You can see the subtle differences in the meaning of various Hebrew words, translated in English simply as “poor.”

Justice - Not Just Charity

This proverb doesn’t say that the poor need a handout. They need truth. The Hebrew word for “truth” is also translated as “faithfulness.” Good social policies call for just and fair treatment of all, regardless of their wealth. But why not simply “show compassion” and “give generously” to the poor, since they’re in need? Because a handout robs the recipient of personal dignity and self-respect, and encourages dependency and resentment. A “hand-up” is worth much more than a handout. Treating the poor with truth means ensuring the working poor the full benefit of their labor, paying little or no income taxes. A stable government motivates its citizens to work with the carrot, not the stick. It will be the whole, tax-deductible carrot, not an after-tax leftover. More about fair taxation at wise taxation.

Poverty as a Teacher

God always uses our troubles to teach us valuable life-lessons—though, like a good teacher, He won’t force us to learn. So He sometimes uses poverty as training in life skills like diligence, respect for authority, proper planning, punctuality, and honesty. Misguided government welfare programs can ruin these lessons, by letting the poor “off the hook.” When it is not combined with requirements for personal responsibility, and when it’s prolonged, public dependency undercuts our personal agency, making us helpless, lazy, and even resentful of the “society” that’s supporting us.

Good Government

Any government that fosters an honest business environment, efficient commercial regulations and growing labor force opportunities will flourish. And that’s really the best way to help the poor. So this proverb implies that governments won’t last long if they bloat their taxation with welfare programs, simply growing a dependent underclass.

The text doesn’t say that the king will live forever, but that “his throne will be established forever.” No human government lasts forever. Some empires, like Chinese, once lasted for millennia, yet seemingly immortal domains like the Egyptian, Assyrian, Greek, Roman and British have collapsed. Some last longer than others. But this proverb says that their stability is directly related to the justice they grant to their lowest class.

The Bible speaks of a kingdom that will put an end to all the others and “endure forever,” (Daniel 2:44). I find it interesting that this kingdom, the kingdom of Jesus Christ, “meek and humble of heart,” has the King Himself identifying with the “least” of His citizens. Amazing. The greatest of all kings takes intense care of the least important people in His kingdom (Matthew 25:45).

Our Maker, Saviour, and Friend

Jesus claimed to have been given “all authority in heaven and on earth,” (Matthew 28:18) thereby implying that His kingdom is all-encompassing and permanent.

This fulfills an ancient prophesy predicting that, in the days of the Roman Empire, God would set up a kingdom that would endure forever (Daniel 2:44).

The Roman civil authorities tried to destroy faith in Jesus Christ, yet His followers have increased steadily and outlasted all human governments, century after century, empire after empire.