Amsal 14:21

14:21 The one who despises his neighbor sins,

but whoever is kind to the needy is blessed.

Amsal 14:31

14:31 The one who oppresses ¹  the poor insults ²  his Creator,

but whoever shows favor ³  to the needy honors him.

Mazmur 69:9

69:9 Certainly ⁴  zeal for ⁵  your house ⁶  consumes me;

I endure the insults of those who insult you. ⁷ 

Mazmur 69:1

Psalm 69 ⁸ 

For the music director; according to the tune of “Lilies;” ⁹  by David.

69:1 Deliver me, O God,

for the water has reached my neck. ¹⁰ 

Yohanes 3:17

3:17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, ¹¹  but that the world should be saved through him.

[14:31]  ¹ tn The verb עָשַׁק (’ashaq) normally means “to oppress” (as in many English versions). However, here it might mean “to slander.” See J. A. Emerton, “Notes on Some Passages in the Book of Proverbs,” JTS 20 (1969): 202-22.

[14:31]  ² sn In the Piel this verb has the meaning of “to reproach; to taunt; to say sharp things against” someone (cf. NIV “shows contempt for”). By oppressing the poor one taunts or mistreats God because that person is in the image of God – hence the reference to the “Creator.” To ridicule what God made is to ridicule God himself.

[14:31]  ³ sn The phrase “shows favor” is contrasted with the term “oppresses.” To “show favor” means to be gracious to (or treat kindly) those who do not deserve it or cannot repay it. It is treatment that is gratis. This honors God because he commanded it to be done (Prov 14:21; 17:5; 19:17).

[69:9]  ⁴ tn Or “for.” This verse explains that the psalmist’s suffering is due to his allegiance to God.

[69:9]  ⁵ tn Or “devotion to.”

[69:9]  ⁶ sn God’s house, the temple, here represents by metonymy God himself.

[69:9]  ⁷ tn Heb “the insults of those who insult you fall upon me.”

[69:9]  sn Jn 2:17 applies the first half of this verse to Jesus’ ministry in the context of John’s account of Jesus cleansing the temple.

[69:1]  ⁸ sn Psalm 69. The psalmist laments his oppressed condition and asks the Lord to deliver him by severely judging his enemies.

[69:1]  ⁹ tn Heb “according to lilies.” See the superscription to Ps 45.

[69:1]  ¹⁰ tn The Hebrew term נפשׁ (nefesh) here refers to the psalmist’s throat or neck. The psalmist compares himself to a helpless, drowning man.

[3:17]  ¹¹ sn That is, “to judge the world to be guilty and liable to punishment.”