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Proverbs 28
Expanded Bible
Proverbs 28
Expanded Bible
28 Evil people ·run [flee] ·even though [or when] no one ·is chasing [pursues] them [Lev. 26:17, 36],
but ·good [righteous] people are as ·brave [confident] as a lion.
2 When a country ·is lawless [or rebels; or transgresses], it has ·one ruler after another [or many rulers/leaders];
but when it is led by a ·leader [L person] with understanding, it ·continues strong [or has lasting order].
3 ·Rulers [or Poor people] who ·mistreat [oppress] the poor
are like a hard rain that ·destroys the crops [washes away the food].
4 Those who ·disobey what they have been taught [forsake/abandon instruction/law] praise the wicked,
but those who ·obey what they have been taught [guard instruction/law] ·are against [battle] them.
5 Evil people do not understand justice,
but those who ·follow [seek] the Lord understand ·it completely [or everything].
6 It is better to be poor and ·innocent [walk blamelessly]
than to be rich and ·wicked [L be on crooked paths].
7 Children who ·obey what they have been taught [protect instruction/law] are wise,
but friends of ·troublemakers [or gluttons] disgrace their parents [Deut. 28:18–21].
8 Some people get rich by ·overcharging others [L interest and surcharge; Ex. 22:25; Deut. 23:20],
but their wealth will be given to those who are ·kind [gracious] to the poor.
9 If you ·refuse to obey [turn your ear away from] ·what you have been taught [L hearing instruction],
your prayers will ·not be heard [be detested/an abomination].
10 Those who lead ·good [virtuous] people to ·do wrong [L go on an evil path]
will ·be ruined by their own evil [L fall into their own pit],
but the ·innocent [blameless] will ·be rewarded with [L inherit] good things.
11 Rich people may ·think they are wise [L be wise in their own eyes],
but the poor with understanding will ·prove them wrong [see through them].
12 When ·good [righteous] people ·triumph [or rejoice], there is great happiness,
but when the wicked ·get control [L rise up], everybody hides.
13 If you hide your sins, you will not succeed.
If you confess and ·reject [abandon] them, you will receive ·mercy [compassion].
14 Those who ·are always respectful [or always fear the Lord; L always fear] will be ·happy [blessed],
but those ·who are stubborn [L whose hearts are hard] will get into trouble.
15 A wicked ruler over poor people is
like a ·roaring [growling] lion or a ·charging [prowling] bear [C dangerous or frightening].
16 A ·ruler [prince] without ·wisdom [understanding] will be cruel,
but the one who ·refuses to take [hates] ·dishonest money [unjust gain/profit] will ·rule [or live] a long time.
17 Don’t help those who are ·guilty of [oppressed/burdened by] murder;
let them ·run [flee] ·until they die [L to the pit/grave; Gen. 9:5–6].
18 ·Innocent people [L Those who walk in innocence/blamelessness] will be ·kept safe [saved],
but those who ·are dishonest [twist paths] will ·suddenly be ruined [L fall in one; C perhaps a pit or the grave].
19 Those who work their land will have plenty of food,
but the ones who ·chase empty dreams instead [L pursue emptiness] will end up poor.
20 A ·truthful [reliable] person will have many blessings,
but those ·eager to get rich [or with get-rich-quick schemes] will be punished.
21 It is not good ·for a judge to take sides [to show favoritism/partiality; L to recognize faces],
but some will ·sin [transgress; do wrong] for only a piece of bread.
22 ·Selfish [Stingy] people are in a hurry to get rich
and do not ·realize [know] they soon will be poor.
23 Those who correct others will later ·be liked [find favor]
more than those who ·give false praise [L have a flattering tongue].
24 Whoever robs father or mother
and says, “It’s not ·wrong [a crime],”
is ·just like someone who destroys things [or friends with thugs; Ex. 20:12].
25 A greedy person ·causes trouble [L stirs up conflict],
but the one who trusts the Lord will ·succeed [escape].
26 Those who trust in ·themselves [L their own hearts] are foolish,
but those who ·live wisely [L walk in wisdom] will be ·kept safe [or refreshed].
27 Whoever gives to the poor will ·have everything he needs [L lack nothing],
but the one who ·ignores [turns a blind eye to] the poor will receive many curses.
28 When the wicked ·get control [rise up], everybody hides,
but when they ·die [are destroyed], ·good [righteous] people ·do well [or multiply; increase].
Proverbs 28
Amplified Bible
Proverbs 28
Amplified Bible
Warnings and Instructions
28 The wicked flee when no one pursues them,
But the righteous are as bold as a lion.(A)
2
When a land does wrong, it has many princes,
But when the ruler is a man of understanding and knowledge, its stability endures.
3
A poor man who oppresses and exploits the lowly
Is like a sweeping rain which leaves no food.(B)
4
Those who [a]set aside the law [of God and man] praise the wicked,
But those who keep the law [of God and man] struggle with them.(C)
5
Evil men do not understand justice,
But they who long for and seek the Lord understand it fully.(D)
6
Better is the poor who walks in his integrity
Than he who is crooked and two-faced though he is rich.(E)
7
He who keeps the law [of God and man] is a wise and discerning son,
But he who is a companion of gluttons humiliates his father [and himself].
8
He who increases his wealth by interest and usury (excessive interest)
Gathers it for him who is gracious to the poor.(F)
9
He who turns his ear away from listening to the law [of God and man],
Even his prayer is repulsive [to God].(G)
10
He who leads the upright astray on an evil path
Will himself fall into his own pit,
But the blameless will inherit good.
11
The rich man [who is conceited and relies on his wealth instead of God] is wise in his own eyes,
But the poor man who has understanding [because he relies on God] is able to see through him.
12
When the righteous triumph, there is great glory and celebration;
But when the wicked rise [to prominence], men hide themselves.
13
He who conceals his transgressions will not prosper,
But whoever confesses and [b]turns away from his sins will find compassion and mercy.(H)
14
Blessed and favored by God is the man who fears [sin and its consequence] at all times,
But he who hardens his heart [and is determined to sin] will fall into disaster.
15
Like a roaring lion and a charging bear
Is a wicked ruler over a poor people.
16
A leader who is a great oppressor lacks understanding and common sense [and his wickedness shortens his days],
But he who hates unjust gain will [be blessed and] prolong his days.
17
A man who is burdened with the guilt of human blood (murder)
Will be a fugitive until death; let no one support him or give him refuge.
18
He who walks blamelessly and uprightly will be kept safe,
But he who is crooked (perverse) will suddenly fall.
19
He who cultivates his land will have plenty of bread,
But he who follows worthless people and frivolous pursuits will have plenty of poverty.
20
A faithful (right-minded) man will abound with blessings,
But he who hurries to be rich will not go unpunished.(I)
21
To have regard for one person over another and to show favoritism is not good,
Because for a piece of bread a man will transgress.
22
He who has an evil and envious eye hurries to be rich
And does not know that poverty will come upon him.(J)
23
He who [appropriately] reprimands a [wise] man will afterward find more favor
Than he who flatters with the tongue.
24
He who robs his father or his mother
And says, “This is no sin,”
Is [not only a thief but also] the companion of a man who destroys.
25
An arrogant and greedy man stirs up strife,
But he who trusts in the Lord will be blessed and prosper.
26
He who trusts confidently in his own heart is a [dull, thickheaded] fool,
But he who walks in [skillful and godly] wisdom will be rescued.(K)
27
He who gives to the poor will never want,
But he who shuts his eyes [from their need] will have many curses.(L)
28
When the wicked rise [to power], men hide themselves;
But when the wicked perish, the [consistently] righteous increase and become great.(M)
Footnotes
- Proverbs 28:4 Lit forsake.
- Proverbs 28:13 Lit forsakes.
Proverbs 28
New International Version
Proverbs 28
New International Version
2 When a country is rebellious, it has many rulers,
but a ruler with discernment and knowledge maintains order.
3 A ruler[a] who oppresses the poor
is like a driving rain that leaves no crops.
4 Those who forsake instruction praise the wicked,
but those who heed it resist them.
5 Evildoers do not understand what is right,
but those who seek the Lord understand it fully.
6 Better the poor whose walk is blameless
than the rich whose ways are perverse.(D)
7 A discerning son heeds instruction,
but a companion of gluttons disgraces his father.(E)
8 Whoever increases wealth by taking interest(F) or profit from the poor
amasses it for another,(G) who will be kind to the poor.(H)
9 If anyone turns a deaf ear to my instruction,
even their prayers are detestable.(I)
10 Whoever leads the upright along an evil path
will fall into their own trap,(J)
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;(K)
but when the wicked rise to power, people go into hiding.(L)
13 Whoever conceals their sins(M) does not prosper,
but the one who confesses(N) and renounces them finds mercy.(O)
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(P) in the grave;
let no one hold them back.
18 The one whose walk is blameless is kept safe,(Q)
but the one whose ways are perverse will fall(R) into the pit.[b]
19 Those who work their land will have abundant food,
but those who chase fantasies will have their fill of poverty.(S)
20 A faithful person will be richly blessed,
but one eager to get rich will not go unpunished.(T)
22 The stingy are eager to get rich
and are unaware that poverty awaits them.(X)
23 Whoever rebukes a person will in the end gain favor
rather than one who has a flattering tongue.(Y)
24 Whoever robs their father or mother(Z)
and says, “It’s not wrong,”
is partner to one who destroys.(AA)
27 Those who give to the poor will lack nothing,(AF)
but those who close their eyes to them receive many curses.(AG)
28 When the wicked rise to power, people go into hiding;(AH)
but when the wicked perish, the righteous thrive.
Footnotes
- Proverbs 28:3 Or A poor person
- Proverbs 28:18 Syriac (see Septuagint); Hebrew into one
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