Proverbs 11:24
New International Version
One person gives freely, yet gains even more; another withholds unduly, but comes to poverty.

New Living Translation
Give freely and become more wealthy; be stingy and lose everything.

English Standard Version
One gives freely, yet grows all the richer; another withholds what he should give, and only suffers want.

Berean Standard Bible
One gives freely, yet gains even more; another withholds what is right, only to become poor.

King James Bible
There is that scattereth, and yet increaseth; and there is that withholdeth more than is meet, but it tendeth to poverty.

New King James Version
There is one who scatters, yet increases more; And there is one who withholds more than is right, But it leads to poverty.

New American Standard Bible
There is one who scatters, and yet increases all the more, And there is one who withholds what is justly due, and yet it results only in poverty.

NASB 1995
There is one who scatters, and yet increases all the more, And there is one who withholds what is justly due, and yet it results only in want.

NASB 1977
There is one who scatters, yet increases all the more, And there is one who withholds what is justly due, but it results only in want.

Legacy Standard Bible
There is one who scatters, and yet increases all the more, And there is one who holds back what is rightly due, and yet results only in want.

Amplified Bible
There is the one who [generously] scatters [abroad], and yet increases all the more; And there is the one who withholds what is justly due, but it results only in want and poverty.

Christian Standard Bible
One person gives freely, yet gains more; another withholds what is right, only to become poor.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
One person gives freely, yet gains more; another withholds what is right, only to become poor.

American Standard Version
There is that scattereth, and increaseth yet more; And there is that withholdeth more than is meet, but it tendeth only to want.

Contemporary English Version
Sometimes you can become rich by being generous or poor by being greedy.

English Revised Version
There is that scattereth, and increaseth yet more; and there is that withholdeth more than is meet, but it tendeth only to want.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
One person spends freely and yet grows richer, while another holds back what he owes and yet grows poorer.

Good News Translation
Some people spend their money freely and still grow richer. Others are cautious, and yet grow poorer.

International Standard Version
Those who give freely gain even more; others hold back what they owe, becoming even poorer.

Majority Standard Bible
One gives freely, yet gains even more; another withholds what is right, only to become poor.

NET Bible
One person is generous and yet grows more wealthy, but another withholds more than he should and comes to poverty.

New Heart English Bible
There is one who scatters, and increases yet more. There is one who withholds more than is appropriate, but gains poverty.

Webster's Bible Translation
There is that scattereth, and yet increaseth; and there is that withholdeth more than is meet, but it tendeth to poverty.

World English Bible
There is one who scatters, and increases yet more. There is one who withholds more than is appropriate, but gains poverty.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
There is [one] who is scattering, and yet is increased, "" And [one] who is keeping back from uprightness, only to want.

Young's Literal Translation
There is who is scattering, and yet is increased, And who is keeping back from uprightness, only to want.

Smith's Literal Translation
There is scattering and yet adding; and the withholding more than right, only to want.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Some distribute their own goods, and grow richer: others take away what is not their own, and are always in want.

Catholic Public Domain Version
Some distribute their own goods, and they become wealthier. Others seize what is not their own, and they are always in need.

New American Bible
One person is lavish yet grows still richer; another is too sparing, yet is the poorer.

New Revised Standard Version
Some give freely, yet grow all the richer; others withhold what is due, and only suffer want.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
There is he who scatters his own seed abroad, and yet brings in plenty; and there is he who gathers that which is not his, and yet has less.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
There is one that distributes seed and brings in much, and there is one who does not gather his own and has little.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
There is that scattereth, and yet increaseth; And there is that withholdeth more than is meet, but it tendeth only to want.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
There are some who scatter their own, and make it more: and there are some also who gather, yet have less.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Dishonest Scales
23The desire of the righteous leads only to good, but the hope of the wicked brings wrath. 24 One gives freely, yet gains even more; another withholds what is right, only to become poor. 25A generous soul will prosper, and he who refreshes others will himself be refreshed.…

Cross References
2 Corinthians 9:6-7
Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. / Each one should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not out of regret or compulsion. For God loves a cheerful giver.

Luke 6:38
Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you.”

Malachi 3:10
Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, so that there may be food in My house. Test Me in this,” says the LORD of Hosts. “See if I will not open the windows of heaven and pour out for you blessing without measure.

Matthew 6:19-21
Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. / But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. / For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

Galatians 6:7-9
Do not be deceived: God is not to be mocked. Whatever a man sows, he will reap in return. / The one who sows to please his flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; but the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. / Let us not grow weary in well-doing, for in due time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.

Ecclesiastes 11:1-2
Cast your bread upon the waters, for after many days you will find it again. / Divide your portion among seven, or even eight, for you do not know what disaster may befall the land.

Acts 20:35
In everything, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words of the Lord Jesus Himself: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’”

1 Timothy 6:17-19
Instruct those who are rich in the present age not to be conceited and not to put their hope in the uncertainty of wealth, but in God, who richly provides all things for us to enjoy. / Instruct them to do good, to be rich in good works, and to be generous and ready to share, / treasuring up for themselves a firm foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is truly life.

Psalm 112:9
He has scattered abroad his gifts to the poor; his righteousness endures forever; his horn will be lifted high in honor.

2 Corinthians 8:12-15
For if the eagerness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what one has, not according to what he does not have. / It is not our intention that others may be relieved while you are burdened, but that there may be equality. / At the present time, your surplus will meet their need, so that in turn their surplus will meet your need. This way there will be equality. ...

Matthew 19:21
Jesus told him, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow Me.”

Deuteronomy 15:10
Give generously to him, and do not let your heart be grieved when you do so. And because of this the LORD your God will bless you in all your work and in everything to which you put your hand.

Philippians 4:17-19
Not that I am seeking a gift, but I am looking for the fruit that may be credited to your account. / I have all I need and more, now that I have received your gifts from Epaphroditus. They are a fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice, well-pleasing to God. / And my God will supply all your needs according to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus.

Isaiah 32:8
But a noble man makes honorable plans; he stands up for worthy causes.

Proverbs 19:17
Kindness to the poor is a loan to the LORD, and He will repay the lender.


Treasury of Scripture

There is that scatters, and yet increases; and there is that withholds more than is meet, but it tends to poverty.

that scattereth

Proverbs 11:18
The wicked worketh a deceitful work: but to him that soweth righteousness shall be a sure reward.

Proverbs 19:17
He that hath pity upon the poor lendeth unto the LORD; and that which he hath given will he pay him again.

Proverbs 28:8
He that by usury and unjust gain increaseth his substance, he shall gather it for him that will pity the poor.

but

Haggai 1:6,9-11
Ye have sown much, and bring in little; ye eat, but ye have not enough; ye drink, but ye are not filled with drink; ye clothe you, but there is none warm; and he that earneth wages earneth wages to put it into a bag with holes…

Haggai 2:16-19
Since those days were, when one came to an heap of twenty measures, there were but ten: when one came to the pressfat for to draw out fifty vessels out of the press, there were but twenty…

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Appropriate Due Freely Gains Gives Grows Increased Increases Increaseth Justly Keeping Meet Need Poverty Results Richer Right Scattereth Scattering Scatters Suffers Tendeth Unduly Want Wealth Withholdeth Withholds
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Appropriate Due Freely Gains Gives Grows Increased Increases Increaseth Justly Keeping Meet Need Poverty Results Richer Right Scattereth Scattering Scatters Suffers Tendeth Unduly Want Wealth Withholdeth Withholds
Proverbs 11
1. On Deception














One gives freely, yet gains even more
This phrase introduces a paradox that is central to the wisdom literature of the Bible. The Hebrew root for "gives freely" is "פָּזַר" (pazar), which means to scatter or disperse. This imagery suggests a generous distribution of resources, akin to a farmer scattering seed. In the ancient Near Eastern context, generosity was often seen as a virtue that led to divine favor and increased prosperity. The idea of gaining more through giving is counterintuitive to human logic but aligns with the biblical principle that God blesses those who are generous. This reflects the broader scriptural theme that true wealth is not measured by what one keeps but by what one gives away.

another withholds what is right, only to become poor
The phrase "withholds what is right" uses the Hebrew root "חָשַׂךְ" (chasak), meaning to hold back or restrain. In the biblical context, withholding what is right can refer to not sharing resources, love, or justice with others. The ancient Israelites understood that hoarding wealth or resources was not only socially irresponsible but spiritually detrimental. The phrase "only to become poor" underscores the irony that those who seek to preserve their wealth by withholding it ultimately suffer loss. This reflects the biblical teaching that spiritual and material poverty can result from a lack of generosity, as God’s blessings are often contingent upon our willingness to bless others.

(24) There is that scattereth--i.e., with bounteous hand (comp. Psalm 112:9), "and yet increaseth" in wealth and blessings (comp. Proverbs 19:17, and the old epitaph, "What we spent, we had; what we saved, we lost; what we gave, we have.")

Verse 24. - There is that scattereth; that giveth liberally, as Psalm 112:99, "He hath dispersed, he hath given to the needy." And yet increaseth; becomes only the richer in wealth and more blessed by God (comp. Proverbs 19:17). Nutt quotes the old epitaph, "What we spent, we had; what we saved, we lost; what we gave, we have." Experience proves that no one ultimately loses who gives the tithe of his income to God (see on Proverbs 28:27). There is that withholdeth more than is meet; i.e. is stingy where he ought to be liberal. But the expression is best taken as in the margin of the Revised Version, "that withholdeth what is justly due," either as a debt or as a proper act of generosity becoming one who desires to please God and to do his duty. But it tendeth to poverty. That which is thus withheld is no real benefit to him. it only inure, sos his want. Septuagint and Vulgate, "There are who, sewing what is their own, make the more; and there are who, gathering what is another's, suffer loss." Dionysius Cato, 'Distich. de Mor.,' 54:4, 1 -

"Despice divitias, si vis animo esse beatus,
Quas qui suscipiunt mendicant semper avari."


Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
One gives freely,
מְ֭פַזֵּר (mə·p̄az·zêr)
Verb - Piel - Participle - masculine singular
Strong's 6340: To scatter

yet gains
וְנוֹסָ֥ף (wə·nō·w·sāp̄)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Nifal - Participle - masculine singular
Strong's 3254: To add, augment

even more;
ע֑וֹד (‘ō·wḏ)
Adverb
Strong's 5750: Iteration, continuance, again, repeatedly, still, more

another withholds
וְחוֹשֵׂ֥ךְ (wə·ḥō·w·śêḵ)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular
Strong's 2820: To restrain, refrain, to refuse, spare, preserve, to observe

what is right,
מִ֝יֹּ֗שֶׁר (mî·yō·šer)
Preposition-m | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 3476: Straightness, uprightness

only
אַךְ־ (’aḵ-)
Adverb
Strong's 389: A particle of affirmation, surely

to become poor.
לְמַחְסֽוֹר׃ (lə·maḥ·sō·wr)
Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 4270: A need, thing needed, poverty


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OT Poetry: Proverbs 11:24 There is one who scatters and increases (Prov. Pro Pr)
Proverbs 11:23
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