Warnings and Instructions

28 The wicked (A)flee when no one is pursuing,
But the righteous are [a]bold as a lion.
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.
A (D)poor man who oppresses the helpless
Is like a driving rain [d]which leaves no food.
Those who abandon the Law (E)praise the wicked,
But those who keep the Law (F)strive against them.
Evil people (G)do not understand justice,
But those who seek the Lord (H)understand everything.
(I)Better is a poor person who walks in his integrity,
Than a person who is [e]crooked, though he is rich.
He who keeps the Law is a discerning son,
But he who is a companion of (J)gluttons humiliates his father.
One who increases his wealth by [f](K)interest of any kind,
Collects it (L)for one who is gracious to the poor.
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

  1. Proverbs 28:1 Lit confident
  2. Proverbs 28:2 Or rebellion
  3. Proverbs 28:2 I.e., the people of a land
  4. Proverbs 28:3 Lit and there is no bread
  5. Proverbs 28:6 Lit perverse of two ways
  6. Proverbs 28:8 Possibly interest on money and food loans
  7. Proverbs 28:11 Lit examines him
  8. Proverbs 28:12 Lit will be searched for
  9. Proverbs 28:17 Lit flee to the pit
  10. Proverbs 28:18 Lit perverse of two ways
  11. Proverbs 28:21 Lit regard the face
  12. Proverbs 28:25 Lit broad soul
  13. Proverbs 28:25 Lit be made fat
  14. Proverbs 28:27 Lit hides

28 The wicked flee, but no one pursues,
    but the righteous is bold like a lion.
By the rebellion of a land, her rulers increase,
    but by a person of intelligence who knows justice, it will last.
A man who is poor and oppresses the impoverished
    is a beating rain that leaves[a] no food.
Those who forsake instruction will praise the wicked,
    but they who guard instruction will struggle against them.
Men of evil do not understand justice,
    but seekers of Yahweh understand completely.[b]
Better to be poor and walking in one’s integrity
    than to be crooked of ways when one is rich.
He who keeps instruction is a child of understanding,
    but the companion of gluttons will shame his father.
He who augments his wealth with interest and with usury
    gathers it for him who is kind to the poor.
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

  1. Proverbs 28:3 Literally “and there is”
  2. Proverbs 28:5 Or “everything”
  3. Proverbs 28:14 Or “mind”
  4. Proverbs 28:16 Hebrew “and”
  5. Proverbs 28:16 Or “prolong”
  6. Proverbs 28:17 Literally “life”
  7. Proverbs 28:21 Literally “Recognizing faces”
  8. Proverbs 28:22 Literally “a man of evil of eye”
  9. Proverbs 28:25 Literally “wide soul”
  10. Proverbs 28:26 Or “mind,” or “sense”
  11. Proverbs 28:27 Hebrew “those”