John Gill's Bible Commentary Ver. 5. Whoso mocketh the poor reproacheth his Maker , etc.] He that mocks the poor for his poverty, Upbraids him with his mean appearance, scoffs at the clothes he wears or food he eats, such an one reproaches his Creator; or, as the Targum, “provokes his Creator to anger;” him who is his own Creator as well as the poor man’s; him who made the poor man, both as a man and as a poor man; and who could have made him rich if he would, as well as the man that mocks at him; whose riches are not of himself, but of God; and who can take them away, and give them to the poor man if he pleases; and therefore rich men should be careful how they mock the poor; for, as Gersom observes, he that derides a work derides the workman; [and] he that is glad at calamities shall not be unpunished ; or “at calamity” f485 ; at the calamity of another, as the Vulgate Latin; and so Gersom; for no man rejoices at his own calamity; at the calamity of the poor, as Aben Ezra; or of his neighbour or companion, as the Targum; or at the calamity of any of his fellow creatures, as the Edomites rejoiced at the calamity of the Jews, but were in their turn destroyed; and as the Jews rejoiced when the Christians were persecuted by Nero, and at length were destroyed themselves by the Romans; and as the Papists will rejoice when the witnesses are slain, and quickly after seven thousand men of name will be slain of them, and the rest frightened, ( Revelation 11:10,13).
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 5 - Those that laugh at poverty, treat God's providence and precepts with contempt.
Original Hebrew לעג3932 לרשׁ7326 חרף2778 עשׂהו6213 שׂמח8056 לאיד343 לא3808 ינקה׃5352
