thinking bible.

You asked

which social structures in our world today create similar vulnerabilities for certain groups?

The passage, plainly, with room to sit with it.

Proverbs 22:16

He who oppresses the poor to increase his own gain, and he who gives to the rich, will only come to poverty.

This verse is part of a collection of wise sayings in the book of Proverbs, written for instruction in wisdom and moral living. It offers observations about human behavior and their consequences, particularly regarding justice and wealth.

What does this passage suggest about the long-term effects of economic systems that benefit a few at the expense of many?

Keep thinking

Read alongside it

  • Amos 5:11-12

    Condemns those who oppress the poor and take grain taxes from them.

  • James 2:5-7

    Speaks against showing partiality to the rich and neglecting the poor.

  • Luke 6:24-25

    Jesus' 'woes' to the rich, challenging the assumption that wealth equals blessing.

Ask your own follow-up