There was a mindset in Israel that being poor was either your own fault or the judgment of God, therefore the poor were despised. The Proverbs in this chapter on the poor will give a different view of the poor.

Being poor is not the worse thing, being a person who lacks integrity is much worse (v1). Being poor is also a much better position to be in than being a rich liar (v22).  False witnesses are also spoken against in the chapter (v5, 9).

Which is more important to you, being a person of integrity or of wealth?

Despite this teaching people still normally have a much higher regard for the rich than the poor. Sadly, the poor are often deserted by they friends (v4) and even by their own family (v7). How do you treat the poor? The poor here may be those with money in the bank but who need a bit more help than others.

Our care of the poor does not take away people’s own responsibility to take the right action to help themselves such as living in obedience to the Lord (v16). People who’re careless can bring misery on themselves, and who then do they blame? The answer is that they strike out at God (v3).