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28 The wicked flee when no man pursues,
    but the righteous are bold as a lion.

Because of the transgression of a land, many are its princes;
    but by a man of understanding and knowledge, it shall be prolonged.

A poor man who oppresses the poor
    is like a sweeping rain that leaves no food.

Those who forsake instruction praise the wicked,
    but such as keep instruction contend with them.

Evil men do not understand justice,
    but those who seek the Lord understand all things.

Better is the poor who walks in his uprightness
    than he who is perverse in his ways, though he be rich.

Whoever keeps the law is a wise son,
    but he who is a companion of riotous men shames his father.

He who by usury and unjust gain increases his substance
    will gather it for him who will pity the poor.

He who turns away his ear from hearing instruction,
    even his prayer will be an abomination.

10 Whoever causes the righteous to go astray in an evil way,
    he himself will fall into his own pit;
    but the upright will have good things in possession.

11 The rich man is wise in his own conceit,
    but the poor who has understanding searches him out.

12 When righteous men rejoice, there is great glory;
    but when the wicked rise, a man hides himself.

13 He who covers his sins will not prosper,
    but whoever confesses and forsakes them will have mercy.

14 Happy is the man who always fears,
    but he who hardens his heart will fall into mischief.

15 As a roaring lion and a charging bear,
    so is a wicked ruler over the poor people.

16 The prince who lacks understanding is also a great oppressor,
    but he who hates covetousness will prolong his days.

17 A man burdened with bloodshed of any person
    will flee until death;
    let no man help him.

18 Whoever walks uprightly will be saved,
    but he who is perverse in his ways will fall at once.

19 He who tills his land will have plenty of bread,
    but he who follows after vain things will have poverty enough.

20 A faithful man will abound with blessings,
    but he who makes haste to be rich will not be innocent.

21 To show partiality is not good,
    because for a morsel of bread that man will transgress.

22 He who hastens to be rich has an evil eye,
    and does not consider that poverty will come upon him.

23 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 is the companion of a destroyer.

25 He who is of a proud heart stirs up strife,
    but he who puts his trust in the Lord will prosper.

26 He who trusts in his own heart is a fool,
    but whoever walks wisely will be delivered.

27 He who gives to the poor will not lack,
    but he who hides his eyes will have many a curse.

28 When the wicked rise, men hide themselves;
    but when they perish, the righteous increase.

28 The wicked flee when no man pursueth;
But the righteous are bold as a lion.
For the transgression of a land many are the princes thereof;
But by [a]men of understanding and knowledge the state thereof shall be prolonged.
A needy man that oppresseth the poor
Is like a sweeping rain [b]which leaveth no food.
They that forsake the law praise the wicked;
But such as keep the law contend with them.
Evil men understand not justice;
But they that seek Jehovah understand all things.
Better is the poor that walketh in his integrity,
Than he that is [c]perverse in his ways, though he be rich.
Whoso keepeth the law is a wise son;
But he that is a companion of gluttons shameth his father.
He that augmenteth his substance by interest and increase,
Gathereth it for him that hath pity on the poor.
He that turneth away his ear from hearing the law,
Even his prayer is an abomination.
10 Whoso causeth the upright to go astray in an evil way,
He shall fall himself into his own pit;
But the perfect shall inherit good.
11 The rich man is wise in [d]his own conceit;
But the poor that hath understanding searcheth him out.
12 When the righteous triumph, there is great glory;
But when the wicked rise, men [e]hide themselves.
13 He that covereth his transgressions shall not prosper;
But whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall obtain mercy.
14 Happy is the man that feareth alway;
But he that hardeneth his heart shall fall into [f]mischief.
15 As a roaring lion, and a ranging bear,
So is a wicked ruler over a poor people.
16 [g]The prince that lacketh understanding is also a great oppressor;
But he that hateth covetousness shall prolong his days.
17 A man that is laden with the blood of any person
Shall flee unto the pit; let no man stay him.
18 Whoso walketh uprightly shall be delivered;
But [h]he that is perverse in his ways shall fall at once.
19 He that tilleth his land shall have plenty of bread;
But he that followeth after vain persons shall have poverty enough.
20 A faithful man shall abound with blessings;
But he that maketh haste to be rich shall not be unpunished.
21 To have respect of persons is not good;
[i]Neither that a man should transgress for a piece of bread.
22 He that hath an evil eye hasteth after riches,
And knoweth not that want shall come upon him.
23 He that rebuketh a man shall afterward find more favor
Than he that flattereth with the tongue.
24 Whoso robbeth his father or his mother, and saith, It is no transgression,
The same is the companion of a destroyer.
25 He that is of a greedy spirit stirreth up strife;
But he that putteth his trust in Jehovah shall be made fat.
26 He that trusteth in his own heart is a fool;
But whoso walketh wisely, he shall be delivered.
27 He that giveth unto the poor shall not lack;
But he that hideth his eyes shall have many a curse.
28 When the wicked rise, men hide themselves;
But when they perish, the righteous increase.

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 28:2 Or, a man
  2. Proverbs 28:3 Hebrew without food.
  3. Proverbs 28:6 Hebrew perverse of two ways.
  4. Proverbs 28:11 Hebrew his own eyes.
  5. Proverbs 28:12 Hebrew must be searched for.
  6. Proverbs 28:14 Or, calamity
  7. Proverbs 28:16 Or, O prince that lackest understanding and art a great oppressor, He etc.
  8. Proverbs 28:18 Or, he that walketh perversely in two ways
  9. Proverbs 28:21 Or, For for a piece of bread a man will transgress