Proverbs 28
New King James Version
The Righteous Are Bold as a Lion
28 The (A)wicked flee when no one 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
Right will be prolonged.
6 Better is the poor who walks in his integrity
Than one perverse in his ways, though he be rich.
7 Whoever keeps the law is a discerning son,
But a companion of gluttons shames his father.
8 One who increases his possessions by usury and extortion
Gathers it for him who will pity the poor.
9 One who turns away his ear from hearing the law,
(G)Even his prayer is an abomination.
10 (H)Whoever causes the upright to go astray in an evil way,
He himself will fall into his own pit;
(I)But the blameless will inherit good.
11 The rich man is wise in his own eyes,
But the poor who has understanding searches him out.
12 When the righteous rejoice, there is great (J)glory;
But when the wicked arise, men [b]hide themselves.
13 (K)He who covers his sins will not prosper,
But whoever confesses and forsakes them will have mercy.
14 Happy is the man who is always reverent,
But he who hardens his heart will fall into calamity.
16 A ruler who lacks understanding is a great (N)oppressor,
But he who hates covetousness will prolong his days.
17 (O)A man burdened with bloodshed will flee into a pit;
Let no one help him.
18 Whoever walks blamelessly will be [c]saved,
But he who is perverse in his ways will suddenly fall.
19 (P)He who tills his land will have plenty of bread,
But he who follows frivolity will have poverty enough!
20 A faithful man will abound with blessings,
(Q)But he who hastens to be rich will not go unpunished.
22 A man with an evil eye hastens after riches,
And does not consider that (T)poverty will come upon him.
23 (U)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 (V)is companion to a destroyer.
25 (W)He who is of a proud heart stirs up strife,
(X)But he who trusts in the Lord will be prospered.
26 He who (Y)trusts in his own heart is a fool,
But whoever walks wisely will be delivered.
27 (Z)He who gives to the poor will not lack,
But he who hides his eyes will have many curses.
28 When the wicked arise, (AA)men hide themselves;
But when they perish, the righteous increase.
Footnotes
- Proverbs 28:3 Lit. and there is no bread
- Proverbs 28:12 Lit. will be searched for
- Proverbs 28:18 delivered
- Proverbs 28:21 Lit. recognize faces
Proverbs 28
Christian Standard Bible
2 When a land is in rebellion, it has many rulers,(C)
but with a discerning and knowledgeable person, it endures.
4 Those who reject the law praise the wicked,(E)
but those who keep the law pit themselves against them.(F)
6 Better the poor person who lives with integrity(I)
than the rich one who distorts right and wrong.[b](J)
7 A discerning son keeps the law,
but a companion of gluttons humiliates his father.(K)
8 Whoever increases his wealth through excessive interest(L)
collects it for one who is kind to the poor.(M)
9 Anyone who turns his ear away from hearing the law—
even his prayer is detestable.(N)
10 The one who leads the upright into an evil way
will fall into his own pit,(O)
but the blameless will inherit what is good.(P)
11 A rich person is wise in his own eyes,
but a poor one who has discernment sees through him.
12 When the righteous triumph,
there is great rejoicing,[c]
but when the wicked come to power,
people hide.(Q)
13 The one who conceals his sins
will not prosper,(R)
but whoever confesses and renounces them
will find mercy.(S)
16 A leader who lacks understanding
is very oppressive,
but one who hates dishonest profit
prolongs his life.(X)
18 The one who lives with integrity will be helped,
but one who distorts right and wrong[e]
will suddenly fall.(AA)
19 The one who works his land
will have plenty of food,(AB)
but whoever chases fantasies
will have his fill of poverty.(AC)
20 A faithful person will have many blessings,(AD)
but one in a hurry to get rich(AE)
will not go unpunished.
21 It is not good to show partiality(AF)—
yet even a courageous person may sin for a piece of bread.(AG)
23 One who rebukes a person will later find more favor(AI)
than one who flatters with his tongue.(AJ)
24 The one who robs his father or mother(AK)
and says, “That’s no sin,”(AL)
is a companion to a person who destroys.(AM)
27 The one who gives to the poor
will not be in need,
but one who turns his eyes away[h]
will receive many curses.(AQ)
28 When the wicked come to power,
people hide,
but when they are destroyed,
the righteous flourish.(AR)
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
The Christian Standard Bible. Copyright © 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. Christian Standard Bible®, and CSB® are federally registered trademarks of Holman Bible Publishers, all rights reserved.