28 (A)The wicked flee when no one pursues,
    but (B)the righteous are bold as a lion.
When a land transgresses, (C)it has many rulers,
    but with a man of understanding and knowledge,
    its stability will long continue.
(D)A poor man who oppresses the poor
    is a beating rain that leaves no food.
Those who forsake the law (E)praise the wicked,
    but those who keep the law (F)strive against them.
Evil men (G)do not understand justice,
    but those who seek the Lord (H)understand it completely.
(I)Better is a poor man who (J)walks in his integrity
    than a rich man who is (K)crooked in his ways.
The one who keeps the law is a son with understanding,
    but (L)a companion of gluttons shames his father.
Whoever multiplies his wealth (M)by interest and profit[a]
    (N)gathers it for him who is (O)generous to the poor.
If one turns away his ear from hearing the law,
    even his (P)prayer is an abomination.
10 Whoever misleads the upright into an evil way
    (Q)will fall into his own pit,
    but the blameless (R)will have a goodly inheritance.
11 A rich man is wise in his (S)own eyes,
    but a poor man who has understanding (T)will find him out.
12 When (U)the righteous triumph, there is great glory,
    but when (V)the wicked rise, people hide themselves.
13 Whoever (W)conceals his transgressions will not prosper,
    but he who (X)confesses and forsakes them will obtain mercy.
14 Blessed is the one who (Y)fears the Lord[b] always,
    but whoever (Z)hardens his heart will fall into calamity.
15 Like (AA)a roaring lion or (AB)a charging bear
    is (AC)a wicked ruler over a poor people.
16 A ruler who (AD)lacks understanding is a cruel oppressor,
    but he who hates unjust gain will prolong his days.
17 If one is burdened with (AE)the blood of another,
    he will be a fugitive until death;[c]
    let no one help him.
18 (AF)Whoever (AG)walks in integrity will be delivered,
    but he who is crooked in his ways will suddenly fall.
19 (AH)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 (AI)will not go unpunished.
21 To show (AJ)partiality is not good,
    but for (AK)a piece of bread a man will do wrong.
22 A (AL)stingy man[d] (AM)hastens after wealth
    and does not know that (AN)poverty will come upon him.
23 Whoever (AO)rebukes a man will afterward find more favor
    than (AP)he who flatters with his tongue.
24 Whoever robs his father or his mother
    and says, “That is no transgression,”
    is (AQ)a companion to a man who destroys.
25 A greedy man (AR)stirs up strife,
    but the one who trusts in the Lord will (AS)be enriched.
26 Whoever (AT)trusts in his own mind is a fool,
    but he who walks in wisdom will be delivered.
27 Whoever (AU)gives to the poor will not want,
    but he who (AV)hides his eyes will get many a curse.
28 When (AW)the wicked rise, (AX)people hide themselves,
    but when they perish, the righteous increase.

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
  4. Proverbs 28:22 Hebrew A man whose eye is evil

Warnings and Instructions

28 The wicked (A)flee when no one is pursuing,
But the righteous are [a]bold as a lion.
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.
A (D)poor man who oppresses the helpless
Is like a driving rain [d]which leaves no food.
Those who abandon the Law (E)praise the wicked,
But those who keep the Law (F)strive against them.
Evil people (G)do not understand justice,
But those who seek the Lord (H)understand everything.
(I)Better is a poor person who walks in his integrity,
Than a person who is [e]crooked, though he is rich.
He who keeps the Law is a discerning son,
But he who is a companion of (J)gluttons humiliates his father.
One who increases his wealth by [f](K)interest of any kind,
Collects it (L)for one who is gracious to the poor.
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.

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 28:1 Lit confident
  2. Proverbs 28:2 Or rebellion
  3. Proverbs 28:2 I.e., the people of a land
  4. Proverbs 28:3 Lit and there is no bread
  5. Proverbs 28:6 Lit perverse of two ways
  6. Proverbs 28:8 Possibly interest on money and food loans
  7. Proverbs 28:11 Lit examines him
  8. Proverbs 28:12 Lit will be searched for
  9. Proverbs 28:17 Lit flee to the pit
  10. Proverbs 28:18 Lit perverse of two ways
  11. Proverbs 28:21 Lit regard the face
  12. Proverbs 28:25 Lit broad soul
  13. Proverbs 28:25 Lit be made fat
  14. Proverbs 28:27 Lit hides