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
New American Standard Bible
Warnings and Instructions
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.
Footnotes
- Proverbs 28:1 Lit confident
- Proverbs 28:2 Or rebellion
- Proverbs 28:2 I.e., the people of a land
- Proverbs 28:3 Lit and there is no bread
- Proverbs 28:6 Lit perverse of two ways
- Proverbs 28:8 Possibly interest on money and food loans
- Proverbs 28:11 Lit examines him
- Proverbs 28:12 Lit will be searched for
- Proverbs 28:17 Lit flee to the pit
- Proverbs 28:18 Lit perverse of two ways
- Proverbs 28:21 Lit regard the face
- Proverbs 28:25 Lit broad soul
- Proverbs 28:25 Lit be made fat
- Proverbs 28:27 Lit hides
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New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. All rights reserved.
