14:28 A king’s glory is 1 the abundance of people,
but the lack of subjects 2 is the ruin 3 of a ruler.
28:27 The one who gives to the poor will not lack, 4
but whoever shuts his eyes to them 5 will receive 6 many curses. 7
1 tn The preposition serves as the beth essentiae – the glory is the abundant population, not in it.
2 tn Heb “people.” Cf. NLT “a dwindling nation.”
3 sn The word means “ruin; destruction,” but in this context it could be a metonymy of effect, the cause being an attack by more numerous people that will bring ruin to the ruler. The proverb is purely a practical and secular saying, unlike some of the faith teachings in salvation history passages.
4 sn The generous individual will be rewarded. He will not lack nor miss what he has given away to the poor.
5 tn Heb “hides his eyes”; “to them” is supplied in the translation to indicate the link with the poor in the preceding line. Hiding or closing the eyes is a metonymy of cause or of adjunct, indicating a decision not to look on and thereby help the poor. It could also be taken as an implied comparison, i.e., not helping the poor is like closing the eyes to them.
6 tn The term “receives” is not in the Hebrew text but is implied, and is supplied in the translation.
7 sn The text does not specify the nature or the source of the curses. It is natural to think that they would be given by the poor who are being mistreated and ignored. Far from being praised for their contributions to society, selfish, stingy people will be reviled for their heartless indifference.