Charles Ellicott Commentary Proverbs 19:7

"All the brethren of the poor do hate him: How much more do his friends go far from him! He pursueth [them with] words, [but] they are gone." — Proverbs 19:7 (ASV)

He pursues them with words, yet they are lacking for him—The first half of a verse has apparently dropped out here. The sense may be, that the poor man hunts after words—that is, seeks to get promises of help from his friends, and these end in nothing—mere talk.