Bessy Smiths 1927 song “No Body Knows You When Your Down and
Out” could have been lifted from the pages of Proverbs.
Once I lived the life of a millionaire,
Spent all my money, I just did not care.
Took all my friends out for a good time,
Bought bootleg whiskey, champagne and wine.
Then I began to fall so low,
Lost all my good friends, I did not have nowhere to go.
I get my hands on a dollar again,
I'm gonna hang on to it till that eagle grins.
Cause no, no, nobody knows you
When you're down and out.
In your pocket, not one penny,
And as for friends, you don't have any.
When you finally get back up on your feet again,
Everybody wants to be your old long-lost friend.
Said it's mighty strange, without a doubt,
Nobody knows you when you're down and out.
Spent all my money, I just did not care.
Took all my friends out for a good time,
Bought bootleg whiskey, champagne and wine.
Then I began to fall so low,
Lost all my good friends, I did not have nowhere to go.
I get my hands on a dollar again,
I'm gonna hang on to it till that eagle grins.
Cause no, no, nobody knows you
When you're down and out.
In your pocket, not one penny,
And as for friends, you don't have any.
When you finally get back up on your feet again,
Everybody wants to be your old long-lost friend.
Said it's mighty strange, without a doubt,
Nobody knows you when you're down and out.
This passage in Proverbs is not talking about any poor man it is
talking about the blameless poor man. The rest of the passage is a list of the
things men will do for wealth.
1. What will we do for friends and money
a. perverse lips
b. zeal and go for
it without thought
c. vs 5 false
witness and pouring out lies
d. vs 6 curry
favor, giving gifts
e. the end result
is ruin, punishment, and they will blame God
2. No Body Knows You
a. shunned by
relatives vs 7
b. friends
deserts him vs 4
c. Jobs wife 2:9
3. Better the Poor Man
a. 18:24 “a man
who sticks closer than a brother
b. despite the
worlds opinion God will bless you in the end.
c. Look at what
Jesus says about the Down and Out Matthew 5:3-10
d. Jesus reflects
the message of Proverbs 19 in Matthew 6:19-24
Conclusion: There is one who sticks closer than a brother.
There is one who gave His life for you, Not because of your wealth, fame,
power, or your vote. When you were sinful He loved you. When you were powerless
He died for you. Jesus is the one who sticks with you closer than a brother,
because your down and out.
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