Bible Verses about Poverty

Jesus told him, “If you want to be perfect, go and sell… Matthew 19:21

Jesus told him, “If you want to be perfect, go and sell all your possessions and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” Matthew 19:21	Jesus said to him, “If you wish to be perfect, go, sell your possessions, and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me.” blameless giving materialism
I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little. Philippians 4:12	I know what it is to have little, and I know what it is to have plenty. In any and all circumstances I have learned the secret of being well-fed and of going hungry, of having plenty and of being in need. contentment food life

Yes, speak up for the poor and helpless, and see that they get justice. Proverbs 31:9	Speak out, judge righteously, defend the rights of the poor and needy. righteousness speaking giving
Work brings profit, but mere talk leads to poverty! Proverbs 14:23	In all toil there is profit, but mere talk leads only to poverty. reliability speaking encouragement
Give justice to the poor and the orphan; uphold the rights of the oppressed and the destitute. Psalm 82:3	Give justice to the weak and the orphan; maintain the right of the lowly and the destitute. orphans neighbor righteousness
Our hearts ache, but we always have joy. We are poor, but we give spiritual riches to others. We own nothing, and yet we have everything. 2 Corinthians 6:10	As sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing everything. sadness joy money
The Lord makes some poor and others rich; he brings some down and lifts others up. 1 Samuel 2:7	The Lord makes poor and makes rich; he brings low, he also exalts. money almighty humility
John replied, “If you have two shirts, give one to the poor. If you have food, share it with those who are hungry.” Luke 3:11	In reply he said to them, “Whoever has two coats must share with anyone who has none; and whoever has food must do likewise.” materialism giving neighbor
This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies says: Judge fairly, and show mercy and kindness to one another. Do not oppress widows, orphans, foreigners, and the poor. And do not scheme against each other. Zechariah 7:9-10	Thus says the Lord of hosts: Render true judgments, show kindness and mercy to one another; do not oppress the widow, the orphan, the alien, or the poor; and do not devise evil in your hearts against one another. evil righteousness neighbor
Just as the rich rule the poor, so the borrower is servant to the lender. Proverbs 22:7	The rich rules over the poor, and the borrower is the slave of the lender. money debt slavery
In my desperation I prayed, and the Lord listened; he saved me from all my troubles. Psalm 34:6	This poor soul cried, and was heard by the Lord, and was saved from every trouble. listening prayer salvation
Can anything ever separate us from Christ’s love? Does it mean he no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or hungry, or destitute, or in danger, or threatened with death? Romans 8:35	Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will hardship, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? love suffering persecution
First, help me never to tell a lie. Second, give me neither poverty nor riches! Give me just enough to satisfy my needs. Proverbs 30:8	Remove far from me falsehood and lying; give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with the food that I need. materialism food money
The rich can pay a ransom for their lives, but the poor won’t even get threatened. Proverbs 13:8	Wealth is a ransom for a person's life, but the poor get no threats. money materialism fear
For I assisted the poor in their need and the orphans who required help. I helped those without hope, and they blessed me. And I caused the widows’ hearts to sing for joy. Job 29:12-13	Because I delivered the poor who cried, and the orphan who had no helper. The blessing of the wretched came upon me, and I caused the widow's heart to sing for joy. widows orphans singing
Loyalty makes a person attractive. It is better to be poor than dishonest. Proverbs 19:22	What is desirable in a person is loyalty, and it is better to be poor than a liar. reliability money goodness
If I gave everything I have to the poor and even sacrificed my body, I could boast about it; but if I didn’t love others, I would have gained nothing. 1 Corinthians 13:3	If I give away all my possessions, and if I hand over my body so that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing. love suffering giving
The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, for he has anointed me to bring Good News to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim that captives will be released, that the blind will see, that the oppressed will be set free. Luke 4:18	The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free. Spirit evangelism freedom
The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is upon me, for the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to comfort the brokenhearted and to proclaim that captives will be released and prisoners will be freed. Isaiah 61:1	The spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me; he has sent me to bring good news to the oppressed, to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and release to the prisoners. Spirit hope redeemer
Arise, O Lord! Punish the wicked, O God! Do not ignore the helpless! Psalm 10:12	Rise up, O Lord; O God, lift up your hand; do not forget the oppressed. prayer neighbor