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
Proverbs 28
American Standard Version
28 The wicked flee when no man pursueth;
But the righteous are bold as a lion.
2 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.
3 A needy man that oppresseth the poor
Is like a sweeping rain [b]which leaveth no food.
4 They that forsake the law praise the wicked;
But such as keep the law contend with them.
5 Evil men understand not justice;
But they that seek Jehovah understand all things.
6 Better is the poor that walketh in his integrity,
Than he that is [c]perverse in his ways, though he be rich.
7 Whoso keepeth the law is a wise son;
But he that is a companion of gluttons shameth his father.
8 He that augmenteth his substance by interest and increase,
Gathereth it for him that hath pity on the poor.
9 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
- Proverbs 28:2 Or, a man
- Proverbs 28:3 Hebrew without food.
- Proverbs 28:6 Hebrew perverse of two ways.
- Proverbs 28:11 Hebrew his own eyes.
- Proverbs 28:12 Hebrew must be searched for.
- Proverbs 28:14 Or, calamity
- Proverbs 28:16 Or, O prince that lackest understanding and art a great oppressor, He etc.
- Proverbs 28:18 Or, he that walketh perversely in two ways
- Proverbs 28:21 Or, For for a piece of bread a man will transgress
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