WHAT SOLOMON SAID:

Proverbs 14:21 He that despiseth his neighbour sinneth: but he that hath mercy on the poor, happy is he.

Proverbs 17:5 Whoso mocketh the poor reproacheth his Maker: and he that is glad at calamities shall not be unpunished.

*[Doesn’t O’Reilly mock the poor by generalizing that they are lazy & irresponsible, and by equating them primarily with those who “drink gin all day,” “smoke reefers 24/7,” “dropped out of school,” and are “too lazy to hold a job”? Does not Glenn Beck mock the poor by misquoting Benjamin Franklin to say, “We should make the poor uncomfortable and kick them out of poverty”?]

Proverbs 19:1 Better is the poor that walketh in his integrity, than he that is perverse in his lips, and is a fool.

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 21:13 Whoso stoppeth his ears at the cry of the poor, he also shall cry himself, but shall not be heard.

*[This is gonna be a tough experience for Rush Limbaugh and like-minded individuals, i.e., the hard right Republicans, the Hannitys, the O’Reillys, etc.; but the filthy democrats who serve the same masters are in the same boat.]

Proverbs 22:7 The rich ruleth over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the lender.

*[There’s our credit system. Do you think Solomon is applauding this state of affairs, and not rather pronouncing judgment upon it? It seems that he is finding fault with the good ‘ole American way.]

Proverbs 22:9 He that hath a bountiful eye shall be blessed; for he giveth of his bread to the poor.

Proverbs 22:22 Rob not the poor, because he is poor: neither oppress the afflicted in the gate.

*[I take it Solomon believes that some people are robbed simply because they are poor and can’t defend themselves. Not much has changed.]

Proverbs 28:3 A poor man that oppresseth the poor is like a sweeping rain which leaveth no food.

*[This is like being a poor Republican…there’s a real anomaly here.]

Proverbs 28:6 Better is the poor that walketh in his uprightness, than he that is perverse in his ways, though he be rich.

Proverbs 28:8 He that by usury [i.e., interest on loans] and unjust gain [through unjust laws] increaseth his substance, he shall gather it for him that will pity the poor.

*[You who love the American economic system, seem to me to despise the One Who inspired Solomon to write these words.]

Proverbs 28:11 The rich man is wise in his own conceit; but the poor that hath understanding searcheth him out.

*[We ain’t as dumb as we look. :o)]

Proverbs 28:15 As a roaring lion, and a ranging bear; so is a wicked ruler over the poor people.

*[This is a comment on Rulers, i.e., it has to do with laws and the political system; it is not just “private charity” or the lack thereof that is considered here.]

Proverbs 28:27 He that giveth unto the poor shall not lack: but he that hideth his eyes shall have many a curse.

Proverbs 29:7 The righteous considereth the cause of the poor: but the wicked regardeth not to know it.

*[Those who argue that opportunity abounds, that only the lazy don’t succeed, seem to me to “regard…not to know” the cause of the poor.]

Proverbs 29:14 The king that faithfully judgeth the poor, his throne shall be established for ever.

*[The king here represents the leaders in any political system; in a democracy, we are all kings; charity is therefore Public by definition.]

Proverbs 31:9 Open thy mouth, judge righteously, and plead the cause of the poor and needy.

*[This is political, especially in a democracy or republic where the people rule publicly based on the political & moral judgments they make privately.]

Proverbs 31:20 She stretcheth out her hand to the poor; yea, she reacheth forth her hands to the needy.

*[This is what the Virtuous Woman does.]

WHAT THE APOSTLES SAID:

Acts 3:6 Then Peter said, silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk.

*[Peter served a different God, it seems, than the fundamentalist preachers you see on TV.]

Acts 2:44 -45 And all that believed were together, and had all things common; And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need.

*[The early Christians don’t look like Capitalists to me. More like Socialists, if I may say so. They worked hard, then spread the wealth.]

Acts 4:34 -35 Neither was there any among them that lacked: for as many as were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the prices of the things that were sold, And laid them down at the apostles' feet: and distribution was made unto every man according as he had need.

*[Can you imagine what the Repubs would say about these people today? Centralization & distribution of wealth so that all may benefit as needed…that is Socialism!]

James 2:5-6 Hearken, my beloved brethren, Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him? But ye have despised the poor. Do not rich men oppress you, and draw you before the judgment seats?

*[James the Apostle seems to agree with Solomon, that most rich men oppress poor people. He seems to be on the side of the poor, and argues that the poor are wrongfully despised.]

James 5:1-6 Go to now, ye rich men, weep and howl for your miseries that shall come upon you. Your riches are corrupted, and your garments are motheaten. Your gold and silver is cankered; and the rust of them shall be a witness against you, and shall eat your flesh as it were fire. Ye have heaped treasure together for the last days. Behold, the hire of the labourers who have reaped down your fields, which is of you kept back by fraud, crieth: and the cries of them which have reaped are entered into the ears of the Lord of sabaoth. Ye have lived in pleasure on the earth, and been wanton; ye have nourished your hearts, as in a day of slaughter. Ye have condemned and killed the just; and he doth not resist you.

*[Sounds like today, doesn’t it? Wages fall, i.e., “the hire of the labourers…which is…kept back by fraud.” But the Repubs will argue we need to pour that “treasure” into the Pentagon to protect ourselves against all those dangerous women & children & old men we are blithely killing with our bombs the world over in the name of Freedom & Safety. And if you don't get paid more for the job you do making money for the rich, work harder!]

WHAT JESUS SAID:

Luke 18:22 Now when Jesus heard these things, he said unto him, Yet lackest thou one thing: sell all that thou hast, and distribute unto the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, follow me.

*[Rush Limbaugh might say: “I worked for my money! Let them work!” So would O’Reilly, Beck, Hannity & most Republicans who post here. There’s that word “distribute” again!]

Luke 6:20 And he lifted up his eyes on his disciples, and said, Blessed be ye poor: for yours is the kingdom of God .

*[Jesus seems to respect the poor more than most rightwing pundits…to understate the case.]

Luke 14:21 So that servant came, and shewed his lord these things. Then the master of the house being angry said to his servant, Go out quickly into the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in hither the poor, and the maimed, and the halt, and the blind.

*[The “poor, and the maimed, and the halt, and the blind”…in short, all the kinds of people that most Repubs hold in more or less contempt. A few are honest enough to boldly admit it. Another few are good-hearted, but fail to discern the Republican agenda.]

Luke 21:1-3 And he looked up, and saw the rich men casting their gifts into the treasury. And he saw also a certain poor widow casting in thither two mites. And he said, Of a truth I say unto you, that this poor widow hath cast in more than they all.

*[Thank goodness there is a just universal balance-scale that will ensure that, in time, we all reap what we sow.]