Proverbs 28-29

New American Standard Bible

28 The wicked ^(A)flee when no one is pursuing,
But the righteous are ^[a]bold as a lion.
² Due to a ^[b]wrongdoing of ^[c]a land its leaders are ^(B)many,
But ^(C)by a person of understanding and knowledge, so it endures.
³ A ^(D)poor man who oppresses the helpless
Is like a driving rain ^[d]which leaves no food.
⁴ Those who abandon the Law ^(E)praise the wicked,
But those who keep the Law ^(F)strive against them.
⁵ Evil people ^(G)do not understand justice,
But those who seek the Lord ^(H)understand everything.
^6 (I)Better is a poor person who walks in his integrity,
Than a person who is ^[e]crooked, though he is rich.
⁷ He who keeps the Law is a discerning son,
But he who is a companion of ^(J)gluttons humiliates his father.
⁸ One who increases his wealth by ^[f](K)interest of any kind,
Collects it ^(L)for one who is gracious to the poor.
⁹ One who turns his ear away from listening to the Law,
Even his ^(M)prayer is an abomination.
¹⁰ One who leads the upright astray in an evil way
Will ^(N)himself fall into his own pit,
But the ^(O)blameless will inherit good.
¹¹ The rich person is ^(P)wise in his own eyes,
But the poor who has understanding ^[g]sees through him.
¹² When the ^(Q)righteous triumph, there is great glory,
But ^(R)when the wicked rise, people ^[h]hide themselves.
¹³ One who ^(S)conceals his wrongdoings will not prosper,
But one who ^(T)confesses and abandons them will find compassion.
¹⁴ How blessed is the person who ^(U)fears always,
But one who ^(V)hardens his heart will fall into disaster.
¹⁵ Like a ^(W)roaring lion and a rushing bear
Is a ^(X)wicked ruler over a poor people.
¹⁶ A ^(Y)leader who is a great oppressor lacks understanding,
But a person who hates unjust gain will prolong his days.
¹⁷ A person who is ^(Z)burdened with the guilt of human blood
Will ^[i]be a fugitive until death; no one is to support him!
¹⁸ One who walks blamelessly will receive help,
But one who is ^[j](AA)crooked will fall all at once.
^19 (AB)One who works his land will ^(AC)have plenty of food,
But one who follows empty pursuits will have plenty of poverty.
²⁰ A ^(AD)faithful person will abound with blessings,
But one who ^(AE)hurries to be rich will not go unpunished.
²¹ To ^[k](AF)show partiality is not good,
^(AG)Because for a piece of bread a man will do wrong.
²² A person with an ^(AH)evil eye ^(AI)hurries after wealth
And does not know that poverty will come upon him.
²³ One who ^(AJ)rebukes a person will afterward find more favor
Than one who ^(AK)flatters with the tongue.
²⁴ He who ^(AL)robs his father or his mother
And says, “There is no wrong done,”
Is the ^(AM)companion of a person who destroys.
²⁵ An ^[l]arrogant person ^(AN)stirs up strife,
But one who ^(AO)trusts in the Lord ^(AP)will ^[m]prosper.
²⁶ One who ^(AQ)trusts in his own heart is a fool,
But one who walks wisely will flee to safety.
²⁷ One who ^(AR)gives to the poor will never lack anything,
But one who ^[n]shuts his eyes will have many curses.
²⁸ When the wicked rise, people hide themselves;
But when they perish, the righteous increase.

29 A person ^[o]often ^(AS)rebuked who ^[p]becomes obstinate
Will ^(AT)suddenly be broken ^[q]beyond remedy.
² When the ^(AU)righteous ^[r]increase, the people rejoice,
But when a wicked person rules, people groan.
³ A man who ^(AV)loves wisdom makes his father glad,
But he who ^(AW)involves himself with prostitutes wastes his wealth.
⁴ The ^(AX)king gives stability to the land by justice,
But a person who takes bribes ruins it.
⁵ A man who ^(AY)flatters his neighbor
Is spreading a net for his steps.
⁶ By wrongdoing an evil person is ^(AZ)ensnared,
But the righteous ^(BA)sings and rejoices.
⁷ The ^(BB)righteous ^[s]is concerned for the rights of the poor;
The wicked does not understand such ^[t]concern.
⁸ Arrogant people ^(BC)inflame a city,
But ^(BD)wise people turn away anger.
⁹ When a wise person has a controversy with a foolish person,
^[u]The foolish person either rages or laughs, and there is no rest.
¹⁰ People of ^(BE)bloodshed hate the blameless person,
But the upright ^[v]are concerned for his life.
¹¹ A ^(BF)fool ^[w]always loses his temper,
But a ^(BG)wise person holds it back.
¹² If a ^(BH)ruler pays attention to falsehood,
All his ministers become wicked.
¹³ The ^(BI)poor person and the oppressor ^[x]have this in common:
The Lord gives ^(BJ)light to the eyes of both.
¹⁴ If a ^(BK)king judges the poor with truth,
His ^(BL)throne will be established forever.
¹⁵ The ^(BM)rod and a rebuke give wisdom,
But a child ^[y]who gets his own way ^(BN)brings shame to his mother.
¹⁶ When the wicked ^[z]increase, wrongdoing increases;
But the ^(BO)righteous will see their downfall.
^17 (BP)Correct your son, and he will give you comfort;
He will also ^[aa](BQ)delight your soul.
¹⁸ Where there is ^(BR)no ^[ab]vision, the people ^(BS)are unrestrained,
But ^(BT)happy is one who keeps the Law.
¹⁹ A slave will not be instructed by words alone;
For though he understands, there will be no response.
²⁰ Do you see a person who is ^(BU)hasty with his words?
There is ^(BV)more hope for a fool than for him.
²¹ One who pampers his slave from childhood
Will in the end find him to be rebellious.
²² An ^(BW)angry person stirs up strife,
And a hot-tempered person abounds in wrongdoing.
²³ A person’s ^(BX)pride will bring him low,
But a ^(BY)humble spirit will obtain honor.
²⁴ One who is a partner with a thief hates his own life;
He ^(BZ)hears the oath but tells nothing.
²⁵ The ^(CA)fear of man ^[ac]brings a snare,
But one who ^(CB)trusts in the Lord will be protected.
^26 (CC)Many seek the ruler’s ^[ad]favor,
But ^(CD)justice for mankind comes from the Lord.
²⁷ An ^(CE)unjust person is an abomination to the righteous,
And one who is ^(CF)upright in the way is an abomination to the wicked.