28 The wicked flee when no one is pursuing them,(A)
but the righteous are as bold as a lion.(B)

When a land is in rebellion, it has many rulers,(C)
but with a discerning and knowledgeable person, it endures.

A destitute leader[a] who oppresses the poor
is like a driving rain that leaves no food.(D)

Those who reject the law praise the wicked,(E)
but those who keep the law pit themselves against them.(F)

The evil do not understand justice,(G)
but those who seek the Lord understand everything.(H)

Better the poor person who lives with integrity(I)
than the rich one who distorts right and wrong.[b](J)

A discerning son keeps the law,
but a companion of gluttons humiliates his father.(K)

Whoever increases his wealth through excessive interest(L)
collects it for one who is kind to the poor.(M)

Anyone who turns his ear away from hearing the law—
even his prayer is detestable.(N)

10 The one who leads the upright into an evil way
will fall into his own pit,(O)
but the blameless will inherit what is good.(P)

11 A rich person is wise in his own eyes,
but a poor one who has discernment sees through him.

12 When the righteous triumph,
there is great rejoicing,[c]
but when the wicked come to power,
people hide.(Q)

13 The one who conceals his sins
will not prosper,(R)
but whoever confesses and renounces them
will find mercy.(S)

14 Happy is the one who is always reverent,(T)
but one who hardens his heart falls into trouble.(U)

15 A wicked ruler over a helpless people(V)
is like a roaring lion or a charging bear.(W)

16 A leader who lacks understanding
is very oppressive,
but one who hates dishonest profit
prolongs his life.(X)

17 Someone burdened by bloodguilt[d]
will be a fugitive until death.(Y)
Let no one help him.(Z)

18 The one who lives with integrity will be helped,
but one who distorts right and wrong[e]
will suddenly fall.(AA)

19 The one who works his land
will have plenty of food,(AB)
but whoever chases fantasies
will have his fill of poverty.(AC)

20 A faithful person will have many blessings,(AD)
but one in a hurry to get rich(AE)
will not go unpunished.

21 It is not good to show partiality(AF)
yet even a courageous person may sin for a piece of bread.(AG)

22 A greedy one[f] is in a hurry for wealth;
he doesn’t know that poverty will come to him.(AH)

23 One who rebukes a person will later find more favor(AI)
than one who flatters with his tongue.(AJ)

24 The one who robs his father or mother(AK)
and says, “That’s no sin,”(AL)
is a companion to a person who destroys.(AM)

25 A greedy person stirs up conflict,(AN)
but whoever trusts in the Lord will prosper.(AO)

26 The one who trusts in himself[g] is a fool,
but one who walks in wisdom will be safe.(AP)

27 The one who gives to the poor
will not be in need,
but one who turns his eyes away[h]
will receive many curses.(AQ)

28 When the wicked come to power,
people hide,
but when they are destroyed,
the righteous flourish.(AR)

Footnotes

  1. 28:3 LXX reads A wicked man
  2. 28:6 Lit who twists two ways
  3. 28:12 Lit glory
  4. 28:17 Lit the blood of a person
  5. 28:18 Lit who is twisted regarding two ways
  6. 28:22 Lit A man with an evil eye
  7. 28:26 Lit his heart
  8. 28:27 Lit who shuts his eyes

28 The wicked flee, but no one pursues,
    but the righteous is bold like a lion.
By the rebellion of a land, her rulers increase,
    but by a person of intelligence who knows justice, it will last.
A man who is poor and oppresses the impoverished
    is a beating rain that leaves[a] no food.
Those who forsake instruction will praise the wicked,
    but they who guard instruction will struggle against them.
Men of evil do not understand justice,
    but seekers of Yahweh understand completely.[b]
Better to be poor and walking in one’s integrity
    than to be crooked of ways when one is rich.
He who keeps instruction is a child of understanding,
    but the companion of gluttons will shame his father.
He who augments his wealth with interest and with usury
    gathers it for him who is kind to the poor.
He who turns his ear from listening to instruction,
    even his prayer is an abomination.
10 He who misleads the upright onto the way of evil,
    into his pits he will fall.
    But as for the blameless, they will inherit good.
11 A man of wealth is wise in his own eyes,
    but the intelligent poor sees through him.
12 When the righteous triumphs, great is the glory,
    but with the rising of the wicked, a person will be hidden.
13 He who conceals his transgression will not prosper,
    but he who confesses and forsakes will obtain mercy.
14 Happy is the person who fears continuously,
    but he who is stubborn of heart,[c] will fall into calamity.
15 Like a roaring lion and a charging bear
    is a wicked ruler over a poor people.
16 A ruler who lacks understanding is[d] a cruel oppressor,
    but those who hate unjust gain will have long[e] days.
17 A person who is burdened with the blood of another,[f]
    until death he will flee;
    do not take hold of him.
18 He who walks in integrity will be safe,
    but he who takes crooked paths will fall in one.
19 He who tills his ground will have plenty bread,
    but he who follows fantasies will have plenty of poverty.
20 A man of faithfulness has abundant blessings,
    but he who hurries to become rich will not go unpunished.
21 Showing partiality[g] is not good,
    and over a morsel of bread, a strong man will do wrong.
22 He who hurries for wealth is a man with an evil eye,[h]
    but he does not know that poverty will come upon him.
23 He who rebukes a person will afterward find more favor
    than he who flatters with the tongue.
24 He who robs his father and his mother and says, “There is no crime,”
    is partner to a man who corrupts.
25 The greedy person[i] will stir up strife,
    but he who trusts in Yahweh will be enriched.
26 He who trusts in his own heart[j] is a fool,
    but he who walks in wisdom will be saved.
27 For he who gives to the poor, there is no lacking,
    but for he[k] who turns his eyes, there are many curses.
28 With the rising of the wicked, humankind will be hidden,
    and with their perishing, the righteous will multiply.

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 28:3 Literally “and there is”
  2. Proverbs 28:5 Or “everything”
  3. Proverbs 28:14 Or “mind”
  4. Proverbs 28:16 Hebrew “and”
  5. Proverbs 28:16 Or “prolong”
  6. Proverbs 28:17 Literally “life”
  7. Proverbs 28:21 Literally “Recognizing faces”
  8. Proverbs 28:22 Literally “a man of evil of eye”
  9. Proverbs 28:25 Literally “wide soul”
  10. Proverbs 28:26 Or “mind,” or “sense”
  11. Proverbs 28:27 Hebrew “those”