Except when there shall be no poor among you; for the LORD shall greatly bless you in the land which the LORD your God gives you for an inheritance to possess it:
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George Leo Haydock
AD 1849
There shall be no poor It is not to be understood as a promise, that there should be no poor in Israel, as appears from ver. 11, where we learn that God's people would never be at a loss to find objects for their charity: but it is an ordinance that all should do their best endeavours to prevent any of their brethren from suffering the hardships of poverty and want. (Challoner)
Beggar, is not expressed, though it be implied in Hebrew or the Septuagint, which connect this with the preceding verse, (Haydock) "because (or save when) there shall be no poor among you "as if the rich could not derive the benefit from the remission of debts. (Vatable)
God had made abundant provision for the poor. He might have prevented any from falling into distress. (Calmet)
But he suffered this sometimes to take place, to try the dispositions both of the rich and of the poor. (Haydock)
If they had faithfully complied with his laws, he would not have permitted them to fall into the last degree of misery...
There shall be no poor: It is not to be understood as a promise, that there should be no poor in Israel, as appears from ver. 11, where we learn that God's people would never be at a loss to find objects for their charity: but it is an ordinance that all should do their best endeavours to prevent any of their brethren from suffering the hardships of poverty and want.
