Proverbs 28
Modern English Version
28 The wicked flee when no man 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, it shall be prolonged.
3 A poor man who oppresses the poor
is like a sweeping rain that leaves no food.
4 Those who forsake instruction praise the wicked,
but such as keep instruction contend with them.
5 Evil men do not understand justice,
but those who seek the Lord understand all things.
6 Better is the poor who walks in his uprightness
than he who is perverse in his ways, though he be rich.
7 Whoever keeps the law is a wise son,
but he who is a companion of riotous men shames his father.
8 He who by usury and unjust gain increases his substance
will gather it for him who will pity the poor.
9 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.
Proverbs 28
Lexham English Bible
28 The wicked flee, but no one pursues,
but the righteous is bold like a lion.
2 By the rebellion of a land, her rulers increase,
but by a person of intelligence who knows justice, it will last.
3 A man who is poor and oppresses the impoverished
is a beating rain that leaves[a] no food.
4 Those who forsake instruction will praise the wicked,
but they who guard instruction will struggle against them.
5 Men of evil do not understand justice,
but seekers of Yahweh understand completely.[b]
6 Better to be poor and walking in one’s integrity
than to be crooked of ways when one is rich.
7 He who keeps instruction is a child of understanding,
but the companion of gluttons will shame his father.
8 He who augments his wealth with interest and with usury
gathers it for him who is kind to the poor.
9 He who turns his ear from listening to instruction,
even his prayer is an abomination.
10 He who misleads the upright onto the way of evil,
into his pits he will fall.
But as for the blameless, they will inherit good.
11 A man of wealth is wise in his own eyes,
but the intelligent poor sees through him.
12 When the righteous triumphs, great is the glory,
but with the rising of the wicked, a person will be hidden.
13 He who conceals his transgression will not prosper,
but he who confesses and forsakes will obtain mercy.
14 Happy is the person who fears continuously,
but he who is stubborn of heart,[c] will fall into calamity.
15 Like a roaring lion and a charging bear
is a wicked ruler over a poor people.
16 A ruler who lacks understanding is[d] a cruel oppressor,
but those who hate unjust gain will have long[e] days.
17 A person who is burdened with the blood of another,[f]
until death he will flee;
do not take hold of him.
18 He who walks in integrity will be safe,
but he who takes crooked paths will fall in one.
19 He who tills his ground will have plenty bread,
but he who follows fantasies will have plenty of poverty.
20 A man of faithfulness has abundant blessings,
but he who hurries to become rich will not go unpunished.
21 Showing partiality[g] is not good,
and over a morsel of bread, a strong man will do wrong.
22 He who hurries for wealth is a man with an evil eye,[h]
but he does not know that poverty will come upon him.
23 He who rebukes a person will afterward find more favor
than he who flatters with the tongue.
24 He who robs his father and his mother and says, “There is no crime,”
is partner to a man who corrupts.
25 The greedy person[i] will stir up strife,
but he who trusts in Yahweh will be enriched.
26 He who trusts in his own heart[j] is a fool,
but he who walks in wisdom will be saved.
27 For he who gives to the poor, there is no lacking,
but for he[k] who turns his eyes, there are many curses.
28 With the rising of the wicked, humankind will be hidden,
and with their perishing, the righteous will multiply.
Footnotes
- Proverbs 28:3 Literally “and there is”
- Proverbs 28:5 Or “everything”
- Proverbs 28:14 Or “mind”
- Proverbs 28:16 Hebrew “and”
- Proverbs 28:16 Or “prolong”
- Proverbs 28:17 Literally “life”
- Proverbs 28:21 Literally “Recognizing faces”
- Proverbs 28:22 Literally “a man of evil of eye”
- Proverbs 28:25 Literally “wide soul”
- Proverbs 28:26 Or “mind,” or “sense”
- Proverbs 28:27 Hebrew “those”
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