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
New King James Version
The Righteous Are Bold as a Lion
28 The (A)wicked flee when no one pursues,
But the righteous are bold as a lion.
2 Because of the transgression of a land, many are its princes;
But by a man of understanding and knowledge
Right will be prolonged.
6 Better is the poor who walks in his integrity
Than one perverse in his ways, though he be rich.
7 Whoever keeps the law is a discerning son,
But a companion of gluttons shames his father.
8 One who increases his possessions by usury and extortion
Gathers it for him who will pity the poor.
9 One who turns away his ear from hearing the law,
(G)Even his prayer is an abomination.
10 (H)Whoever causes the upright to go astray in an evil way,
He himself will fall into his own pit;
(I)But the blameless will inherit good.
11 The rich man is wise in his own eyes,
But the poor who has understanding searches him out.
12 When the righteous rejoice, there is great (J)glory;
But when the wicked arise, men [b]hide themselves.
13 (K)He who covers his sins will not prosper,
But whoever confesses and forsakes them will have mercy.
14 Happy is the man who is always reverent,
But he who hardens his heart will fall into calamity.
16 A ruler who lacks understanding is a great (N)oppressor,
But he who hates covetousness will prolong his days.
17 (O)A man burdened with bloodshed will flee into a pit;
Let no one help him.
18 Whoever walks blamelessly will be [c]saved,
But he who is perverse in his ways will suddenly fall.
19 (P)He who tills his land will have plenty of bread,
But he who follows frivolity will have poverty enough!
20 A faithful man will abound with blessings,
(Q)But he who hastens to be rich will not go unpunished.
22 A man with an evil eye hastens after riches,
And does not consider that (T)poverty will come upon him.
23 (U)He who rebukes a man will find more favor afterward
Than he who flatters with the tongue.
24 Whoever robs his father or his mother,
And says, “It is no transgression,”
The same (V)is companion to a destroyer.
25 (W)He who is of a proud heart stirs up strife,
(X)But he who trusts in the Lord will be prospered.
26 He who (Y)trusts in his own heart is a fool,
But whoever walks wisely will be delivered.
27 (Z)He who gives to the poor will not lack,
But he who hides his eyes will have many curses.
28 When the wicked arise, (AA)men hide themselves;
But when they perish, the righteous increase.
Footnotes
- Proverbs 28:3 Lit. and there is no bread
- Proverbs 28:12 Lit. will be searched for
- Proverbs 28:18 delivered
- Proverbs 28:21 Lit. recognize faces
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Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
