80 Heb “There is one who scatters.” The participle מְפַזֵּר (méfazzer, “one who scatters”) refers to charity rather than farming or investments (and is thus a hypocatastasis). Cf. “become rich by being generous”).
81 Heb “increases.” The verb means that he grows even more wealthy. This is a paradox: Generosity determines prosperity in God’s economy.
82 Heb “more than what is right.” This one is not giving enough, but saving for himself.
83 Heb “comes to lack.” The person who withholds will come to the diminishing of his wealth. The verse uses hyperbole to teach that giving to charity does not make anyone poor, and neither does refusal to give ensure prosperity.
84 Heb “the soul of blessing.” The genitive functions attributively. “Blessing” refers to a gift (Gen 33:11) or a special favor (Josh 15:19). The term נֶפֶשׁ (nefesh, “soul”) functions as a synecdoche of part (= soul) for the whole (= person); see 660 4.
85 Heb “will grow fat.” Drawing on the standard comparison of fatness and abundance (Deut 32:15), the term means “become rich, prosperous.”
86 The verb מַרְוֶה (marveh, “to be saturated; to drink one’s fill”) draws a comparison between providing water for others with providing for those in need (e.g., Jer 31:25; Lam 3:15). The kind act will be reciprocated.
87 The phrase “for others” does not appear in the Hebrew but is implied by the causative Hiphil verb which normally takes a direct object; it is elided in the Hebrew for the sake of emphasis. It is supplied in the translation for the sake of clarity and smoothness.
88 This verb also means “to pour water,” and so continues the theme of the preceding participle: The one who gives refreshment to others will be refreshed. 924 רָוָה lists the form יוֹרֶא (yore’) as a Hophal imperfect of רָוָה (ravah, the only occurrence) and translates it “will himself also be watered” (cf. , , ). But the verb looks very much like a Hiphil of the root יָרָא (yara’, “to shoot; to pour”). So the editors of suggest יוּאָר (yu’ar).

In other versions

ESVEnglish Standard Version

One gives freely, yet grows all the richer;

another withholds what he should give, and only suffers want.

Whoever brings blessing will be enriched,

and one who waters will himself be watered.

NIVNew International Version (2011)

One person gives freely, yet gains even more;

another withholds unduly, but comes to poverty.

A generous person will prosper;

whoever refreshes others will be refreshed.

CSBChristian Standard Bible

One person gives freely,

yet gains more;

another withholds what is right,

only to become poor.

A generous person will be enriched,

and the one who gives a drink of water

will receive water.

NLTNew Living Translation

Give freely and become more wealthy;

be stingy and lose everything.

The generous will prosper;

those who refresh others will themselves be refreshed.

LEBThe Lexham English Bible

There is one who gives yet grows richer,

but he who withholds what is right only finds need.

A person of blessing will be enriched,

and he who gives water also will be refreshed.

KJV 1900King James Version

There is that scattereth, and yet increaseth;

And there is that withholdeth more than is meet, but it tendeth to poverty.

The liberal soul shall be made fat:

And he that watereth shall be watered also himself.

Public Domain