Proverbs 29:7

The righteous considereth the cause of the poor,.... Not his poverty and distress, so as to relieve him, which yet he does,

Psalms 41:1; nor the person of the poor in judgment, and which he ought not to do; for as he should not regard a rich man's person, and favour him, because he is rich; so neither a poor man, because he is poor, through an affectation of mercy, Leviticus 19:15; but the cause of the poor, and the justice of that, and do him justice, though a poor man. This is to be understood chiefly of a civil magistrate, a judge righteous; who will take notice of and regard a poor man's cause, and take a good deal of pains and care that he is not injured. Or, "knoweth the judgment of the poor" m he acquaints himself with his case, makes himself thoroughly master of it, searches out his cause as Job did,

Proverbs 29:16;

[but] the wicked regardeth not to know [it]; or, "does not understand knowledge" n of the poor man's cause and case; and there being no money to be had, he does not care to consider it, and look into it, and get knowledge of it, and do him justice; he will not take his cause in hand, or plead it.

m ידע צדיק דין דלים "novit justus causan pauperum", V. L. "cognoscit", Pagninus, Tigurine version, Junius Tremellius, Piscator, c. "novit et curat justus judicum pauperum", Michaelis "cognoscit justus litem tenuiem", Schultens. n לא יבין דעת "non intellilget scientiam", Paguinus, Montanus "intelligit", Mercerus, Piscator, Gejerus, Michaelis, Schultens.