Proverbs 22:23 - Exposition

For, though they are powerless to defend themselves, and have no earthly patrons, the Lord will plead their cause ( Proverbs 23:11 ). Jehovah will be their Advocate and Protector. And spoil the soul of those that spoiled them; rather, despoil of life those that despoil them. So the Revised Version. God, exercising his moral government on human concerns, will bring ruin and death on the unjust judge or the rich oppressor of the poor. Jerome has, Configet eos qui confixerunt animam ejus. The verb used is קבע ( kabah ) , which is found only here and Malachi 3:8 , where it means "to defraud" or "despoil." In the Chaldee and Syriac it may signify "to fix," "to pierce." Septuagint, "The Lord will judge his cause, and thou shalt deliver thy soul unharmed ( ἄσυλον ):" i.e. if you refrain from injustice and oppression, you will be saved Item evil and dwell securely.