Proverbs 11:24

One person is generous ¹  and yet grows more wealthy, ²  but another withholds more than he should ³  and comes to poverty. ⁴ 

De 15:10; Ps 112:9; Pr 11:18; Pr 19:17; Pr 28:8; Ec 11:1,2,6; Hag 1:6,9-11; Hag 2:16-19; Lu 6:38; Ac 11:29,30; 2Co 9:5-11

¹ tn Heb “There is one who scatters.” The participle מְפַזֵּר (mÿfazzer, “one who scatters”) refers to charity rather than farming or investments (and is thus a hypocatastasis). Cf. CEV “become rich by being generous”).

² tn Heb “increases.” The verb means that he grows even more wealthy. This is a paradox: Generosity determines prosperity in God’s economy.

³ tn Heb “more than what is right.” This one is not giving enough, but saving for himself.

⁴ tn Heb “comes to lack.” The person who withholds will come to the diminishing of his wealth. The verse uses hyperbole to teach that giving to charity does not make anyone poor, and neither does refusal to give ensure prosperity.