Proverbs 28
Legacy Standard Bible
28 The wicked (A)flee when there is no one pursuing,
But the righteous are [a]secure as a lion.
2 By the transgression of a land (B)many are its princes,
But (C)by a man who understands, who knows, so it endures.
3 A (D)poor man who oppresses the lowly
Is a driving rain [b]which leaves no food.
4 Those who forsake the law (E)praise the wicked,
But those who keep the law (F)strive with them.
5 Evil men (G)do not understand justice,
But those who seek Yahweh (H)understand all things.
6 (I)Better is the poor who walks in his integrity
Than he who is crooked—[c]double dealing—though he be rich.
7 He who observes the law is a son who understands,
But he who befriends (J)gluttons humiliates his father.
8 He who increases his wealth by (K)interest and usury
Gathers it (L)for him who is gracious to the lowly.
9 He who turns away his ear from listening to the law,
Even his (M)prayer is an abomination.
10 He 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 man is (P)wise in his own eyes,
But the lowly who understands [d]searches him.
12 When the (Q)righteous exult, there is great honor,
But (R)when the wicked rise, man has to be sought out.
13 He who (S)conceals his transgressions will not prosper,
But he who (T)confesses and forsakes them will receive compassion.
14 How blessed is the man who (U)is always in dread,
But he who (V)hardens his heart will fall into calamity.
15 Like a (W)roaring lion and a rushing bear
Is a (X)wicked ruler over a poor people.
16 A (Y)leader who lacks discernment abounds in oppressions,
But he who hates greedy gain will prolong his days.
17 A man (Z)oppressed with (AA)the bloodguilt of life
Will flee until [e]death; let no one uphold him.
18 He who walks blamelessly will be saved,
But he who is (AB)crooked—[f]double dealing—will fall all at once.
19 (AC)He who cultivates his ground will be (AD)satisfied with food,
But he who pursues empty things will be satisfied with poverty.
20 A (AE)faithful man will abound with blessings,
But he who (AF)makes haste to be rich will not go unpunished.
21 To [g](AG)show partiality is not good,
(AH)Even for a piece of bread a man will transgress.
22 A man with an (AI)evil eye (AJ)hurries after wealth
And does not know that want will come upon him.
23 He who (AK)reproves a man will afterward find more favor
Than he who (AL)flatters with the tongue.
24 He who (AM)robs his father or his mother
And says, “It is not a transgression,”
Is the (AN)companion of a man who destroys.
25 An [h]arrogant man (AO)stirs up strife,
But he who (AP)trusts in Yahweh (AQ)will [i]be enriched.
26 He who (AR)trusts in his own heart is a fool,
But he who walks wisely will escape.
27 He who (AS)gives to the poor will never want,
But he who [j]shuts his eyes will have many curses.
28 When the wicked rise, men hide themselves;
But when they perish, the righteous increase.
Footnotes
- Proverbs 28:1 Lit trusting
- Proverbs 28:3 Lit and there is no bread
- Proverbs 28:6 Lit two ways
- Proverbs 28:11 Or sees right through him
- Proverbs 28:17 Lit the pit
- Proverbs 28:18 Lit 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
Proverbs 28
Christian Standard Bible
2 When a land is in rebellion, it has many rulers,(C)
but with a discerning and knowledgeable person, it endures.
4 Those who reject the law praise the wicked,(E)
but those who keep the law pit themselves against them.(F)
6 Better the poor person who lives with integrity(I)
than the rich one who distorts right and wrong.[b](J)
7 A discerning son keeps the law,
but a companion of gluttons humiliates his father.(K)
8 Whoever increases his wealth through excessive interest(L)
collects it for one who is kind to the poor.(M)
9 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)
16 A leader who lacks understanding
is very oppressive,
but one who hates dishonest profit
prolongs his life.(X)
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)
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)
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)
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