Proverbs 22:16 Meaning and Explanation
“He that oppresseth the poor to increase his riches, and he that giveth to the rich, shall surely come to want.”
King James Version (KJV)
This study note uses an AI-assisted editorial workflow with source, duplication, and quality checks. See how verse explanations are prepared.
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Exploitation and flattery lead to ruin; mistreating the poor and bribing the wealthy both end in loss.
The Context of Proverbs 22:16
Two forms of corruption that backfire: oppression of the vulnerable and flattery of the powerful.
What Does Proverbs 22:16 Mean?
The person who squeezes the poor for profit thinks they are building wealth, but they are digging a pit. Their greed may succeed for a time, but it stores up judgment and eventually collapses them.
Similarly, giving to the rich to gain favor seems profitable but depletes you. Both paths—oppression below and flattery above—are forms of corruption that end in want and shame.