Verse 1

<To the chief music-maker. A Psalm. Of David.> Happy is the man who gives thought to the poor; the Lord will be his saviour in the time of trouble.

Referenced Verses

  • Prov 14:21 : 21 He who has no respect for his neighbour is a sinner, but he who has pity for the poor is happy.
  • Prov 19:17 : 17 He who has pity on the poor gives to the Lord, and the Lord will give him his reward.
  • Ps 37:19 : 19 They will not be shamed in the evil time, and in the days when all are in need of food they will have enough.
  • Acts 20:35 : 35 In all things I was an example to you of how, in your lives, you are to give help to the feeble, and keep in memory the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, There is a greater blessing in giving than in getting.
  • 2 Cor 9:8-9 : 8 And God is able to give you all grace in full measure; so that ever having enough of all things, you may be full of every good work: 9 As it is said in the Writings, He has sent out far and wide, he has given to the poor; his righteousness is for ever. 10 And he who gives seed for putting into the field and bread for food, will take care of the growth of your seed, at the same time increasing the fruits of your righteousness; 11 Your wealth being increased in everything, with a simple mind, causing praise to God through us. 12 For this work of giving not only takes care of the needs of the saints, but is the cause of much praise to God; 13 For when, through this work of giving, they see what you are, they give glory to God for the way in which you have given yourselves to the good news of Christ, and for the wealth of your giving to them and to all; 14 While their hearts go out to you in love and in prayer for you, because of the great grace of God which is in you.
  • Heb 6:10 : 10 For God is true, and will not put away from him the memory of your work and of your love for his name, in the help which you gave and still give to the saints.
  • Jas 2:13 : 13 For the man who has had no mercy will be judged without mercy, but mercy takes pride in overcoming judging.
  • Rev 3:10 : 10 Because you have kept my word in quiet strength, I will keep you from the hour of testing which is coming on all the world, to put to the test those who are on earth.
  • Ps 112:9 : 9 He has given with open hands to the poor; his righteousness is for ever; his horn will be lifted up with honour.
  • Ps 37:26 : 26 All the day he is ready to have mercy and to give; his children are a blessing.
  • Ps 37:39-40 : 39 But the Lord is the saviour of the upright: he is their strength in the time of trouble. 40 And the Lord will be their help, and keep them safe: he will take them out of the hands of the evil-doers, and be their saviour, because they had faith in him.
  • Deut 15:7-9 : 7 If in any of your towns in the land which the Lord your God is giving you, there is a poor man, one of your countrymen, do not let your heart be hard or your hand shut to him; 8 But let your hand be open to give him the use of whatever he is in need of. 9 And see that there is no evil thought in your heart, moving you to say to yourself, The seventh year, the year of forgiveness is near; and so looking coldly on your poor countryman you give him nothing; and he will make an outcry to the Lord against you, and it will be judged as sin in you. 10 But it is right for you to give to him, without grief of heart: for because of this, the blessing of the Lord your God will be on all your work and on everything to which you put your hand. 11 For there will never be a time when there are no poor in the land; and so I give orders to you, Let your hand be open to your countrymen, to those who are poor and in need in your land.
  • Eccl 11:1-2 : 1 Put out your bread on the face of the waters; for after a long time it will come back to you again. 2 Give a part to seven or even to eight, because you have no knowledge of the evil which will be on the earth.
  • Isa 58:7-9 : 7 Is it not to give your bread to those in need, and to let the poor who have no resting-place come into your house? to put a robe on the unclothed one when you see him, and not to keep your eyes shut for fear of seeing his flesh? 8 Then will light be shining on you like the morning, and your wounds will quickly be well: and your righteousness will go before you, and the glory of the Lord will come after you. 9 Then at the sound of your voice, the Lord will give an answer; at your cry he will say, Here am I. If you take away from among you the yoke, the putting out of the finger of shame, and the evil word; 10 And if you give your bread to those in need of it, so that the troubled one may have his desire; then you will have light in the dark, and your night will be as the full light of the sun: 11 And the Lord will be your guide at all times; in dry places he will give you water in full measure, and will make strong your bones; and you will be like a watered garden, and like an ever-flowing spring.
  • Matt 25:34-39 : 34 Then will the King say to those on his right, Come, you who have the blessing of my Father, into the kingdom made ready for you before the world was: 35 For I was in need of food, and you gave it to me: I was in need of drink, and you gave it to me: I was wandering, and you took me in; 36 I had no clothing, and you gave it to me: when I was ill, or in prison, you came to me. 37 Then will the upright make answer to him, saying, Lord, when did we see you in need of food, and give it to you? or in need of drink, and give it to you? 38 And when did we see you wandering, and take you in? or without clothing, and give it to you? 39 And when did we see you ill, or in prison, and come to you?
  • Mark 14:7 : 7 The poor you have ever with you, and whenever you have the desire you may do them good: but me you have not for ever.
  • Luke 14:13-14 : 13 But when you give a feast, send for the poor and the blind and those who are broken in body: 14 And you will have a blessing, because they will not be able to give you any payment, and you will get your reward when the upright come back from the dead.
  • Eccl 12:1 : 1 Let your mind be turned to your Maker in the days of your strength, while the evil days come not, and the years are far away when you will say, I have no pleasure in them;
  • Prov 16:14 : 14 The wrath of the king is like those who give news of death, but a wise man will put peace in place of it.
  • Job 29:12-16 : 12 For I was a saviour to the poor when he was crying for help, to the child with no father, and to him who had no supporter. 13 The blessing of him who was near to destruction came on me, and I put a song of joy into the widow's heart. 14 I put on righteousness as my clothing, and was full of it; right decisions were to me a robe and a head-dress. 15 I was eyes to the blind, and feet to him who had no power of walking. 16 I was a father to the poor, searching out the cause of him who was strange to me.
  • Job 31:16-20 : 16 If I kept back the desire of the poor; if the widow's eye was looking for help to no purpose; 17 If I kept my food for myself, and did not give some of it to the child with no father; 18 (For I was cared for by God as by a father from my earliest days; he was my guide from the body of my mother;) 19 If I saw one near to death for need of clothing, and that the poor had nothing covering him; 20 If his back did not give me a blessing, and the wool of my sheep did not make him warm;
  • Ps 34:19 : 19 Great are the troubles of the upright: but the Lord takes him safely out of them all.
  • Ps 82:3-4 : 3 Give ear to the cause of the poor and the children without fathers; let those who are troubled and in need have their rights. 4 Be the saviour of the poor and those who have nothing: take them out of the hand of the evil-doers.
  • Gal 2:10 : 10 Only it was their desire that we would give thought to the poor; which very thing I had much in mind to do.
  • 1 Thess 5:14 : 14 And our desire is that you will keep control over those whose lives are not well ordered, giving comfort to the feeble-hearted, supporting those with little strength, and putting up with much from all.