Lately, we often see a phenomenon called tone deafness: people talk about their successes, luxuries, or personal achievements without realising the suffering that others are going through. In the public sphere, this attitude often appears in influential figures who seem insensitive to the social realities around them. This phenomenon reminds us that intelligence or status does not always go hand in hand with sensitivity.

The book of Proverbs 29:1-13 highlights the fundamental difference between the righteous and the wicked. Verse 7 states that "The righteous know the rights of the weak, but the wicked do not understand them." The word "know" in Hebrew does not simply refer to intellectual knowledge, but rather personal involvement, a concern that drives one to care for the plight of the powerless. In contrast, the wicked are described as those who "do not understand" (lo-yabîn). This lack of understanding is not due to a lack of intelligence, but rather due to a heart that is insensitive to the suffering of others or what can also be called a lack of empathy.

Empathy is a moral faculty that shapes the way we view the world. Without empathy, it is easy to get caught up in one's own self-interest and lose sensitivity to injustice. On the contrary, empathy helps us see that every human being has equal dignity, as the Bible teaches that all are created in His image.

Friends of the Bible, true wisdom is not only seen in wise words, but in sensitivity to those who are weak. The wise man does not turn a blind eye to the suffering around him. He is willing to take his time, understand the plight of others, and stand on the side of justice. Thus, concern for the weak is a sign that God's wisdom is truly at work in our hearts.