Proverbs 3:27

[SeanF1989]

Douay-Rheims

Do not withhold him from doing good, who is able: if thou art able, do good thyself also.

How do you know if you are able?

 

[mgoforth]

I believe the translation is not the best for that verse in the DR.

A more accurate rendering would be: “Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, When it is in your power to do it.”

So basically, if you see someone that you could help in a moral way…then you should help them.

 

[Spencerian]

Douay-Rheims

Do not withhold him from doing good, who is able: if thou art able, do good thyself also.

How do you know if you are able?

Hi.

Unfortunately the USCCB Bible website is experiencing technical problems at the time I post this, so I used a translation from Catholic.org to assist here. It’s translation of Proverbs 3:27 says:

Refuse no kindness to those who have a right to it, if it is in your power to perform it.

The key word that this site linked was “right.” A person who has a right over some thing has a justified use of that thing. But possession of something does not necessarily confer a right to use that something (such as a thief that steals money). A right requires that someone in possession of said thing will respect the authority of the other who is justified in the receiving of said thing.

So the verse says that, in a world (then and now) where niceties such as “thank you,” or opening the door for someone burdened by loads or infirmity are fewer than not, it is our obligation to give the right of kindness by expressing said kindness to those justified in receiving it, and to do so as long as we have the means to do so (monetarily, physically, or spiritually).

Christ perfected this and similar teachings in Matthew 5:44-45 (emphasis in red is mine):

But I say this to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you; so that you may be children of your Father in heaven, for he causes his sun to rise on the bad as well as the good, and sends down rain to fall on the upright and the wicked alike.