Proverbs 13:7
New International Version
One person pretends to be rich, yet has nothing; another pretends to be poor, yet has great wealth.

New Living Translation
Some who are poor pretend to be rich; others who are rich pretend to be poor.

English Standard Version
One pretends to be rich, yet has nothing; another pretends to be poor, yet has great wealth.

Berean Standard Bible
One pretends to be rich, but has nothing; another pretends to be poor, yet has great wealth.

King James Bible
There is that maketh himself rich, yet hath nothing: there is that maketh himself poor, yet hath great riches.

New King James Version
There is one who makes himself rich, yet has nothing; And one who makes himself poor, yet has great riches.

New American Standard Bible
There is one who pretends to be rich but has nothing; Another pretends to be poor, but has great wealth.

NASB 1995
There is one who pretends to be rich, but has nothing; Another pretends to be poor, but has great wealth.

NASB 1977
There is one who pretends to be rich, but has nothing; Another pretends to be poor, but has great wealth.

Legacy Standard Bible
There is one who pretends to be rich, but has nothing; Another pretends to be poor, but has great wealth.

Amplified Bible
There is one who pretends to be rich, yet has nothing at all; Another pretends to be poor, yet has great wealth.

Christian Standard Bible
One person pretends to be rich but has nothing; another pretends to be poor but has abundant wealth.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
One man pretends to be rich but has nothing; another pretends to be poor but has great wealth.

American Standard Version
There is that maketh himself rich, yet hath nothing: There is that maketh himself poor, yet hath great wealth.

Contemporary English Version
Some who have nothing may pretend to be rich, and some who have everything may pretend to be poor.

English Revised Version
There is that maketh himself rich, yet hath nothing: there is that maketh himself poor, yet hath great wealth.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
One person pretends to be rich but has nothing. Another pretends to be poor but has great wealth.

Good News Translation
Some people pretend to be rich, but have nothing. Others pretend to be poor, but own a fortune.

International Standard Version
One person pretends to be wealthy, but has nothing; another pretends to be poor, yet is rich.

Majority Standard Bible
One pretends to be rich, but has nothing; another pretends to be poor, yet has great wealth.

NET Bible
There is one who pretends to be rich and yet has nothing; another pretends to be poor and yet possesses great wealth.

New Heart English Bible
There are some who pretend to be rich, yet have nothing. There are some who pretend to be poor, yet have great wealth.

Webster's Bible Translation
There is that maketh himself rich, yet hath nothing: there is that maketh himself poor, yet hath great riches.

World English Bible
There are some who pretend to be rich, yet have nothing. There are some who pretend to be poor, yet have great wealth.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
There is [he] who is making himself rich, and has nothing, "" Who is making himself poor, and wealth [is] abundant.

Young's Literal Translation
There is who is making himself rich, and hath nothing, Who is making himself poor, and wealth is abundant.

Smith's Literal Translation
There is he making himself rich, and not anything: making himself poor, and much wealth.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
One is as it were rich, when he hath nothing: and another is as it were poor, when he hath great riches.

Catholic Public Domain Version
One is like the rich, though he has nothing. And another is like the poor, though he has many riches.

New American Bible
One acts rich but has nothing; another acts poor but has great wealth.

New Revised Standard Version
Some pretend to be rich, yet have nothing; others pretend to be poor, yet have great wealth.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
There are some who pretend to be rich, yet have nothing; there are others who pretend to be poor, yet have great riches.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
There are those who enrich themselves and have nothing, and there is one who makes himself poor and possesses an abundance.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
There is that pretendeth himself rich, yet hath nothing; There is that pretendeth himself poor, yet hath great wealth.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
There are some who, having nothing, enrich themselves: and there are some who bring themselves down in the midst of much wealth.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
A Father's Discipline
6Righteousness guards the man of integrity, but wickedness undermines the sinner. 7 One pretends to be rich, but has nothing; another pretends to be poor, yet has great wealth. 8Riches may ransom a man’s life, but a poor man hears no threat.…

Cross References
Matthew 16:26
What will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul?

Luke 12:15-21
And He said to them, “Watch out! Guard yourselves against every form of greed, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.” / Then He told them a parable: “The ground of a certain rich man produced an abundance. / So he thought to himself, ‘What shall I do, since I have nowhere to store my crops?’ ...

2 Corinthians 8:9
For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sake He became poor, so that you through His poverty might become rich.

Revelation 3:17-18
You say, ‘I am rich; I have grown wealthy and need nothing.’ But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind, and naked. / I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined by fire so that you may become rich, white garments so that you may be clothed and your shameful nakedness not exposed, and salve to anoint your eyes so that you may see.

Philippians 2:5-8
Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus: / Who, existing in the form of God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, / but emptied Himself, taking the form of a servant, being made in human likeness. ...

1 Timothy 6:6-10
Of course, godliness with contentment is great gain. / For we brought nothing into the world, so we cannot carry anything out of it. / But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with these. ...

James 2:5
Listen, my beloved brothers: Has not God chosen the poor of this world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom He promised those who love Him?

1 Corinthians 4:8-10
Already you have all you want. Already you have become rich. Without us, you have become kings. How I wish you really were kings, so that we might be kings with you! / For it seems to me that God has displayed us apostles at the end of the procession, like prisoners appointed for death. We have become a spectacle to the whole world, to angels as well as to men. / We are fools for Christ, but you are wise in Christ. We are weak, but you are strong. You are honored, but we are dishonored.

Matthew 5:3
“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Luke 6:20
Looking up at His disciples, Jesus said: “Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God.

Ecclesiastes 5:10-12
He who loves money is never satisfied by money, and he who loves wealth is never satisfied by income. This too is futile. / When good things increase, so do those who consume them; what then is the profit to the owner, except to behold them with his eyes? / The sleep of the worker is sweet, whether he eats little or much, but the abundance of the rich man permits him no sleep.

Jeremiah 9:23-24
This is what the LORD says: “Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom, nor the strong man in his strength, nor the wealthy man in his riches. / But let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am the LORD, who exercises loving devotion, justice and righteousness on the earth—for I delight in these things,” declares the LORD.

Isaiah 55:1-2
“Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters; and you without money, come, buy, and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost! / Why spend money on that which is not bread, and your labor on that which does not satisfy? Listen carefully to Me, and eat what is good, and your soul will delight in the richest of foods.

Psalm 49:16-20
Do not be afraid when a man grows rich, when the splendor of his house increases. / For when he dies, he will carry nothing away; his abundance will not follow him down. / Though in his lifetime he blesses his soul—and men praise you when you prosper— ...

Psalm 37:16
Better is the little of the righteous than the abundance of many who are wicked.


Treasury of Scripture

There is that makes himself rich, yet has nothing: there is that makes himself poor, yet has great riches.

is that maketh himself rich

Proverbs 13:11
Wealth gotten by vanity shall be diminished: but he that gathereth by labour shall increase.

Proverbs 12:9
He that is despised, and hath a servant, is better than he that honoureth himself, and lacketh bread.

Luke 18:11-14
The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican…

that maketh himself poor

Ecclesiastes 11:1,2
Cast thy bread upon the waters: for thou shalt find it after many days…

1 Corinthians 4:10,11
We are fools for Christ's sake, but ye are wise in Christ; we are weak, but ye are strong; ye are honourable, but we are despised…

2 Corinthians 4:7
But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.

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Proverbs 13
1. a scoffer does not listen to rebuke














One pretends to be rich, but has nothing;
This phrase highlights the theme of appearances versus reality, a common motif in biblical wisdom literature. In ancient Israel, wealth was often seen as a sign of God's blessing, yet this proverb warns against the deception of outward appearances. The Hebrew culture placed significant value on community and reputation, which could lead individuals to project an image of wealth to gain social standing or influence. This aligns with Jesus' teachings in the New Testament, where He warns against storing up treasures on earth (Matthew 6:19-21). The idea of pretending to be rich can also be linked to spiritual poverty, where one may appear to have everything but lacks true spiritual fulfillment and connection with God.

another pretends to be poor, yet has great wealth.
This part of the proverb contrasts the first by illustrating that true wealth is not always visible. In biblical times, humility and modesty were virtues, and this phrase suggests that those who downplay their material wealth may possess greater spiritual or moral riches. This can be seen in the life of Jesus Christ, who, though He was rich, became poor for our sake (2 Corinthians 8:9). The concept of hidden wealth can also be connected to the treasures of wisdom and knowledge found in Christ (Colossians 2:3). Historically, figures like King Solomon, who authored many proverbs, were known for their wisdom and understanding, which were considered more valuable than gold or silver. This phrase encourages readers to seek true wealth in wisdom, righteousness, and a relationship with God, rather than in material possessions.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Solomon
Traditionally regarded as the author of Proverbs, Solomon was known for his wisdom and wealth. His insights into human behavior and the value of wisdom are reflected in this verse.

2. Ancient Israel
The cultural and historical context of Proverbs is ancient Israel, where wealth and poverty were significant social issues, and wisdom literature was a key part of spiritual and moral instruction.

3. The Wise and the Foolish
Throughout Proverbs, these archetypes represent those who live according to God's wisdom versus those who reject it. This verse contrasts the wise understanding of true wealth with the foolish pursuit of material riches.
Teaching Points
True Wealth is Spiritual
The verse highlights the distinction between material wealth and spiritual richness. True wealth is found in a relationship with God and living according to His wisdom.

The Deception of Appearances
Appearances can be deceiving. Someone may appear wealthy but lack true fulfillment and peace, while another may seem poor but possess spiritual abundance.

Contentment and Humility
Embrace contentment and humility, recognizing that material wealth is temporary and does not define one's value or success in God's eyes.

Stewardship and Generosity
Use whatever resources you have, whether great or small, to serve others and glorify God, reflecting the true wealth of a generous spirit.

Self-Reflection and Integrity
Examine your own life for areas where you might be pretending or placing too much value on material wealth. Strive for integrity and authenticity in your walk with God.(7) There is that maketh himself rich, yet hath nothing.--Comp. Luke 12:21, and the advice given in Revelation 3:17.

There is that maketh himself poor.--Comp. Luke 12:33.

Verse 7. - There is that maketh himself rich, yet hath nothing. "Maketh" may mean "feigns." There are some who pretend to be rich while really they are poor (as Proverbs 12:9), and there are some who make themselves, i.e. pretend to be poor (as misers) while they have much wealth. The Vulgate elucidates this meaning by rendering, quasi dives and quasi pauper; and the Hebrew verbs confirm its correctness. The proverb in both members teaches one not to trust to appearances. Septuagint, "There are who enrich themselves, having nothing; and there are who humble themselves amid much wealth." It is obvious that such a version lends itself to a Christian interpretation. The first clause reminds one of the rich fool who laid up treasure for himself, and was not rich toward God (Luke 12:21; comp. Revelation 3:17, 18). The second clause teaches that wealth expended in God's service makes a man rich in the treasury of heaven (Luke 12:21, 33). One who thus uses the means entrusted to him could be spoken of like St. Paul, "as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things" (2 Corinthians 6:10).

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
One pretends to be rich,
מִ֭תְעַשֵּׁר (miṯ·‘aš·šêr)
Verb - Hitpael - Participle - masculine singular
Strong's 6238: To accumulate, chiefly, to grow, rich

but has nothing;
וְאֵ֣ין (wə·’ên)
Conjunctive waw | Adverb
Strong's 369: A non-entity, a negative particle

another pretends to be poor,
מִ֝תְרוֹשֵׁ֗שׁ (miṯ·rō·wō·šêš)
Verb - Hitpael - Participle - masculine singular
Strong's 7326: To be in want or poor

yet has great
רָֽב׃ (rāḇ)
Adjective - masculine singular
Strong's 7227: Much, many, great

wealth.
וְה֣וֹן (wə·hō·wn)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 1952: Wealth, sufficiency


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OT Poetry: Proverbs 13:7 There are some who pretend to be (Prov. Pro Pr)
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