Proverbs 28.8
“Whoever multiplies his wealth by interest and profit gathers it for him who is generous to the poor.”
In this proverb, Solomon describes a person who has multiplied their wealth through exorbitant interest rates and deceitful practices. The word used for “profit” in this context refers to “unjust gain.”
The Bible does not condemn the rich. It is not wrong to have wealth. But the Bible clearly condemns fraud, oppression, and deceit. And the wealthy are usually in a better position to oppress, deceive, and defraud than the poor are.
It is not the fact of increasing wealth, but the means by which the wealth is increased that is condemned here.
In the second part of the proverb, Solomon explains what will happen to the man who increases his wealth by unjust means: he will end up giving his wealth to those who are generous to the poor. The main point is that justice will eventually prevail.
The meaning is similar to Jeremiah 17.11: “Like the partridge that gathers a brood that she did not hatch, so is he who gets riches but not by justice; in the midst of his days they will leave him, and at his end he will be a fool.”
Those who get rich by dishonest and unrighteous means shall leave their wealth to others and will be proven to be a fool. Kindness and generosity will ultimately triumph over greed and selfishness. You will reap what you sow.
Proverbs 28.9
“If one turns away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer is an abomination.”
When people willfully and habitually disobey the word of God, they cut themselves off from God. And since these people turn away from the Lord and his word, their prayers are turned away. Sadly, this describes many who can be found every week in synagogue and church services.
Scan the OT and NT, and you will see that God is particularly hard on religious hypocrites. He strongly dislikes the prayers of religious people who make no attempt to obey the word, and who do not confess and repent. Indeed, as this proverb states, the prayer of a religious hypocrite is an abomination.
“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs, which outwardly appear beautiful, but within are full of dead people’s bones and all uncleanness. So you also outwardly appear righteous to others, but within you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.” (Matthew 23.26-27)
