Proverbs 22:23
 Proverbs 22:23 
New International Version (©2011)
for the LORD will take up their case and will exact life for life.

New Living Translation (©2007)
For the LORD is their defender. He will ruin anyone who ruins them.

English Standard Version (©2001)
for the LORD will plead their cause and rob of life those who rob them.

New American Standard Bible (©1995)
For the LORD will plead their case And take the life of those who rob them.

King James Bible (Cambridge Ed.)
For the LORD will plead their cause, and spoil the soul of those that spoiled them.

Holman Christian Standard Bible (©2009)
for the LORD will take up their case and will plunder those who plunder them.

International Standard Version (©2012)
for the LORD will plead their case and ruin the lives of those who ruin them.

NET Bible (©2006)
for the LORD will plead their case and will rob those who are robbing them.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English (©2010)
Because Lord Jehovah decides their judgment and the humiliation of their souls is repaid.

GOD'S WORD® Translation (©1995)
because the LORD will plead their case and will take the lives of those who rob them.

King James 2000 Bible (©2003)
For the LORD will plead their cause, and spoil the soul of those that spoiled them.

American King James Version
For the LORD will plead their cause, and spoil the soul of those that spoiled them.

American Standard Version
For Jehovah will plead their cause, And despoil of life those that despoil them.

Douay-Rheims Bible
Because the Lord will judge his cause, and will afflict them that have afflicted his soul.

Darby Bible Translation
for Jehovah will plead their cause, and despoil the soul of those that despoil them.

English Revised Version
For the LORD will plead their cause, and despoil of life those that despoil them.

Webster's Bible Translation
For the LORD will plead their cause, and spoil the soul of those that spoiled them.

World English Bible
for Yahweh will plead their case, and plunder the life of those who plunder them.

Young's Literal Translation
For Jehovah pleadeth their cause, And hath spoiled the soul of their spoilers.

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

22:17-21. To these words, to this knowledge, the ear must be bowed down, and the heart applied by faith and love. To live a life of delight in God and dependence on him, is the foundation of all practical religion. The way to know the certainty of the word of truth, is to make conscience of our duty. 22,23. He that robs and oppresses the poor, does so at his peril. And if men will not appear for them, God will. 24,25. Our corrupt hearts have so much tinder in them, that it is dangerous to have to do with those that throw about the sparks of their passion.


Pulpit Commentary

Verse 23. - For, though they are powerless to defend themselves, and have no earthly patrons, the Lord will plead their cause (Proverbs 23:11). Jehovah will be their Advocate and Protector. And spoil the soul of those that spoiled them; rather, despoil of life those that despoil them. So the Revised Version. God, exercising his moral government on human concerns, will bring ruin and death on the unjust judge or the rich oppressor of the poor. Jerome has, Configet eos qui confixerunt animam ejus. The verb used is קבע (kabah), which is found only here and Malachi 3:8, where it means "to defraud" or "despoil." In the Chaldee and Syriac it may signify "to fix," "to pierce." Septuagint, "The Lord will judge his cause, and thou shalt deliver thy soul unharmed (ἄσυλον):" i.e. if you refrain from injustice and oppression, you will be saved Item evil and dwell securely.


Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

For the Lord will plead their cause,.... If counsellors at the bar will not, he will; if judges on the bench will not do them justice, he will; he will judge the poor of the people; he will plead their cause, and plead it thoroughly, till he has brought forth judgment unto victory: woe to the man against whom Jehovah pleads; happy the poor on whose side he is; for their Redeemer is mighty, the Lord of hosts is his name, Psalm 72:4;

and spoil the soul of those that spoiled them; they could only spoil the poor of their goods, but the Lord can and will spoil and destroy the souls of the spoilers in hell: or, "spoil them that spoiled their soul" or "life" (k); that is, who spoiled them of their goods, and took away that small pittance they had, which was their life or livelihood; they shall be spoiled themselves that spoil others; the same measure they have meted out shall be measured out to them again; God will destroy them that destroy the earth, even antichrist and his followers, the oppressors of Christ's poor on earth, Revelation 11:18.

(k) "et vim faciet illis, qui animae eorum vim intulerunt", Munster, Vatablus; "et spoliabit eos qui spotiant ipsos anima", Michaelis.


Proverbs 22:23 Parallel Commentaries

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A Good Name More Desirable than Riches
22Rob not the poor, because he is poor: neither oppress the afflicted in the gate: 23For the LORD will plead their cause, and spoil the soul of those that spoiled them. 24Make no friendship with an angry man; and with a furious man you shall not go: …

1 Samuel 25:39 When David heard that Nabal was dead, he said, "Praise be to the LORD, who has upheld my cause against Nabal for treating me with contempt. He has kept his servant from doing wrong and has brought Nabal's wrongdoing down on his own head." Then David sent word to Abigail, asking her to become his wife.
Psalm 12:5 "Because the poor are plundered and the needy groan, I will now arise," says the LORD. "I will protect them from those who malign them."
Psalm 35:10 My whole being will exclaim, "Who is like you, LORD? You rescue the poor from those too strong for them, the poor and needy from those who rob them."
Psalm 140:12 I know that the LORD secures justice for the poor and upholds the cause of the needy.
Proverbs 23:11 for their Defender is strong; he will take up their case against you.
Jeremiah 51:36 Therefore this is what the LORD says: "See, I will defend your cause and avenge you; I will dry up her sea and make her springs dry.