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
International Standard Version
Contrasting Good and Evil
28 The wicked flee, though no one pursues,
but the righteous are bold like a lion.
2 When a land transgresses,
it gains a succession of leaders,
but with an understanding and knowledgeable man,
its stability endures.
3 A poor man who oppresses the weak
is like a rainstorm that destroys all[a] the crops.
4 Those who forsake the Law praise the wicked,
but whoever keeps it[b] fights them.
5 Evil men don’t understand justice,
but whoever seeks the Lord understands it all.
6 It’s better to be poor and live a blameless life
than to be rich but crooked in one’s lifestyle.
7 Whoever keeps the Law is a discerning son,
but whoever keeps company with gluttons
brings shame to his father.
8 Whoever gains wealth by charging exorbitant[c] interest
collects it for someone who is kind to the poor.
9 If someone quits[d] listening to the Law
even his prayer is detestable.
10 Whoever misleads the upright along an evil way
will himself fall into his own pit,
but the blameless will inherit what is good.
11 The rich man may be wise in his own opinion;
but a discerning, poor man sees through him.
12 When the righteous are victorious, there is great glory,
but when the wicked arise, men hide themselves.
13 Whoever hides his transgressions will not succeed,
but whoever confesses and forsakes them will find mercy.
14 Blessed is the man who always fears the Lord,[e]
but whoever hardens his heart will fall into disaster.
15 A roaring lion and a charging bear—
that’s what a wicked tyrant is over poor people.
16 A Commander-in-Chief[f] who is a cruel oppressor lacks understanding,
but whoever hates unjust gain will live longer.[g]
17 A guilty man tormented by bloodshed
will be a lifelong fugitive;
let no one support him.
18 Whoever lives blamelessly will be delivered,
but whoever is perverted will fall without warning.
19 Whoever works his farmland will have abundant food,
but whoever chases fantasies will become very poor.
20 The faithful man will prosper with blessings,
but whoever is in a hurry to get rich
will not escape punishment.
21 To show partiality isn’t good,
yet for a piece of bread the valiant will transgress.
22 The miser[h] is in a hurry to get wealthy,
but he isn’t aware that poverty will catch up with him.
23 Whoever rebukes a man will later on find more favor
than someone who flatters with his words.[i]
24 Whoever steals from his father or mother
but claims, “It’s no sin,”
is a companion to someone who demolishes.
25 An arrogant[j] man stirs up dissension,
but anyone who trusts in the Lord prospers.
26 Whoever trusts in himself is foolish,
but whoever lives wisely will be kept safe.
27 Whoever gives to the poor will never lack,
but whoever shuts his eyes to their poverty[k] will be cursed.
28 When the wicked rise to power, people hide themselves,
but when the wicked[l] perish, the righteous increase.
Footnotes
- Proverbs 28:3 Lit. that leaves no
- Proverbs 28:4 Lit. keeps the Law
- Proverbs 28:8 Lit. charging interest upon
- Proverbs 28:9 Lit. turns away from
- Proverbs 28:14 The Heb. lacks the Lord
- Proverbs 28:16 Lit. Nagid; i.e. a senior officer entrusted with dual roles of operational oversight and administrative authority
- Proverbs 28:16 Lit. will lengthen his days
- Proverbs 28:22 Lit. The man with an evil eye
- Proverbs 28:23 Lit. tongue
- Proverbs 28:25 Or greedy
- Proverbs 28:27 The Heb. lacks to their poverty
- Proverbs 28:28 Lit. when they
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