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28 The wicked flee when no one pursues,
    but the righteous are as bold as a lion.
When a land rebels
    it has many rulers;
but with an intelligent ruler
    there is lasting order.[a]
A ruler[b] who oppresses the poor
    is a beating rain that leaves no food.
Those who forsake the law praise the wicked,
    but those who keep the law struggle against them.
The evil do not understand justice,
    but those who seek the Lord understand it completely.
Better to be poor and walk in integrity
    than to be crooked in one’s ways even though rich.
Those who keep the law are wise children,
    but companions of gluttons shame their parents.
One who augments wealth by exorbitant interest
    gathers it for another who is kind to the poor.
When one will not listen to the law,
    even one’s prayers are an abomination.
10 Those who mislead the upright into evil ways
    will fall into pits of their own making,
    but the blameless will have a goodly inheritance.
11 The rich is wise in self-esteem,
    but an intelligent poor person sees through the pose.
12 When the righteous triumph, there is great glory,
    but when the wicked prevail, people go into hiding.
13 No one who conceals transgressions will prosper,
    but one who confesses and forsakes them will obtain mercy.
14 Happy is the one who is never without fear,
    but one who is hard-hearted will fall into calamity.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 28:2 Meaning of Heb uncertain
  2. Proverbs 28:3 Cn: Heb A poor person

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