Those who forsake the law (A)praise the wicked,
    but those who keep the law (B)strive against them.
Evil men (C)do not understand justice,
    but those who seek the Lord (D)understand it completely.
(E)Better is a poor man who (F)walks in his integrity
    than a rich man who is (G)crooked in his ways.
The one who keeps the law is a son with understanding,
    but (H)a companion of gluttons shames his father.
Whoever multiplies his wealth (I)by interest and profit[a]
    (J)gathers it for him who is (K)generous to the poor.
If one turns away his ear from hearing the law,
    even his (L)prayer is an abomination.
10 Whoever misleads the upright into an evil way
    (M)will fall into his own pit,
    but the blameless (N)will have a goodly inheritance.
11 A rich man is wise in his (O)own eyes,
    but a poor man who has understanding (P)will find him out.
12 When (Q)the righteous triumph, there is great glory,
    but when (R)the wicked rise, people hide themselves.
13 Whoever (S)conceals his transgressions will not prosper,
    but he who (T)confesses and forsakes them will obtain mercy.
14 Blessed is the one who (U)fears the Lord[b] always,
    but whoever (V)hardens his heart will fall into calamity.
15 Like (W)a roaring lion or (X)a charging bear
    is (Y)a wicked ruler over a poor people.
16 A ruler who (Z)lacks understanding is a cruel oppressor,
    but he who hates unjust gain will prolong his days.
17 If one is burdened with (AA)the blood of another,
    he will be a fugitive until death;[c]
    let no one help him.
18 (AB)Whoever (AC)walks in integrity will be delivered,
    but he who is crooked in his ways will suddenly fall.
19 (AD)Whoever works his land will have plenty of bread,
    but he who follows worthless pursuits will have plenty of poverty.
20 A faithful man will abound with blessings,
    but whoever hastens to be rich (AE)will not go unpunished.
21 To show (AF)partiality is not good,
    but for (AG)a piece of bread a man will do wrong.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 28:8 That is, profit that comes from charging interest to the poor
  2. Proverbs 28:14 Hebrew lacks the Lord
  3. Proverbs 28:17 Hebrew until the pit

Those who forsake instruction praise the wicked,
    but those who heed it resist them.

Evildoers do not understand what is right,
    but those who seek the Lord understand it fully.

Better the poor whose walk is blameless
    than the rich whose ways are perverse.(A)

A discerning son heeds instruction,
    but a companion of gluttons disgraces his father.(B)

Whoever increases wealth by taking interest(C) or profit from the poor
    amasses it for another,(D) who will be kind to the poor.(E)

If anyone turns a deaf ear to my instruction,
    even their prayers are detestable.(F)

10 Whoever leads the upright along an evil path
    will fall into their own trap,(G)
    but the blameless will receive a good inheritance.

11 The rich are wise in their own eyes;
    one who is poor and discerning sees how deluded they are.

12 When the righteous triumph, there is great elation;(H)
    but when the wicked rise to power, people go into hiding.(I)

13 Whoever conceals their sins(J) does not prosper,
    but the one who confesses(K) and renounces them finds mercy.(L)

14 Blessed is the one who always trembles before God,
    but whoever hardens their heart falls into trouble.

15 Like a roaring lion or a charging bear
    is a wicked ruler over a helpless people.

16 A tyrannical ruler practices extortion,
    but one who hates ill-gotten gain will enjoy a long reign.

17 Anyone tormented by the guilt of murder
    will seek refuge(M) in the grave;
    let no one hold them back.

18 The one whose walk is blameless is kept safe,(N)
    but the one whose ways are perverse will fall(O) into the pit.[a]

19 Those who work their land will have abundant food,
    but those who chase fantasies will have their fill of poverty.(P)

20 A faithful person will be richly blessed,
    but one eager to get rich will not go unpunished.(Q)

21 To show partiality(R) is not good(S)
    yet a person will do wrong for a piece of bread.(T)

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 28:18 Syriac (see Septuagint); Hebrew into one