Proverbs 10:15

The wealth of a rich person is like ¹  a fortified city, ²  but the poor are brought to ruin ³  by ⁴  their poverty.

The wealth of the rich is their fortified city, but poverty is the ruin of the poor.

The rich man’s wealth is his fortress, The ruin of the poor is their poverty.

The wealth of the rich is their fortress; the poverty of the poor is their calamity.

The wealth of the rich is their bastion; the poverty of the indigent is their ruin.

The property of the man of wealth is his strong town: the poor man’s need is his destruction.

The wealth of the rich is their fortress; the poverty of the poor is their ruin.

The rich man’s wealth is his strong city; The destruction of the poor is their poverty.

The wealth of a rich person is like ¹  a fortified city, ²  but the poor are brought to ruin ³  by ⁴  their poverty.

¹ tn Heb “is.” This expression, “a rich man’s wealth is his strong city,” is a metaphor. The comparative particle “like” is supplied in the translation for the sake of clarity and smoothness.

² tn Heb “a city of his strength.” The genitive עֹז (’oz, “strength”) functions as an attributive genitive: “strong city” = “fortified city.” This phrase is a metaphor; wealth protects its possessions against adversity like a fortified city. Such wealth must be attained by diligence and righteous means (e.g., 13:8; 18:23; 22:7).

³ tn Heb “the ruin of the poor.” The term דַּלִּים (dalim, “of the poor”) functions as an objective genitive. Poverty leads to the ruin of the poor. The term “ruin” includes the shambles in which the person lives. This provides no security but only the fear of ruin. This proverb is an observation on life.

⁴ tn Heb “is their poverty.”