Proverbs 28

Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition

28 The wicked flee when no one pursues,
    but the righteous are bold as a lion.
² When a land transgresses
    it has many rulers;
but with men of understanding and knowledge
    its stability will long continue.
³ A poor man who oppresses the poor
    is a beating rain that leaves no food.
⁴ Those who forsake the law praise the wicked,
    but those who keep the law strive against them.
⁵ Evil men do not understand justice,
    but those who seek the Lord understand it completely.
⁶ Better is a poor man who walks in his integrity
    than a rich man who is perverse in his ways.
⁷ He who keeps the law is a wise son,
    but a companion of gluttons shames his father.
⁸ He who augments his wealth by interest and increase
    gathers it for him who is kind to the poor.
⁹ If one turns away his ear from hearing the law,
    even his prayer is an abomination.
¹⁰ He who misleads the upright into an evil way
    will fall into his own pit;
    but the blameless will have a goodly inheritance.
¹¹ A rich man is wise in his own eyes,
    but a poor man who has understanding will find him out.
¹² When the righteous triumph, there is great glory;
    but when the wicked rise, men hide themselves.
¹³ He who conceals his transgressions will not prosper,
    but he who confesses and forsakes them will obtain mercy.
¹⁴ Blessed is the man who fears the Lord always;
    but he who hardens his heart will fall into calamity.
¹⁵ Like a roaring lion or a charging bear
    is a wicked ruler over a poor people.
¹⁶ A ruler who lacks understanding is a cruel oppressor;
    but he who hates unjust gain will prolong his days.
¹⁷ If a man is burdened with the blood of another,
    let him be a fugitive until death;
    let no one help him.
¹⁸ He who walks in integrity will be delivered,
    but he who is perverse in his ways will fall into a pit.^[a]
19 He who tills his land will have plenty of bread,
    but he who follows worthless pursuits will have plenty of poverty.
²⁰ A faithful man will abound with blessings,
    but he who hastens to be rich will not go unpunished.
²¹ To show partiality is not good;
    but for a piece of bread a man will do wrong.
²² A miserly man hastens after wealth,
    and does not know that want will come upon him.
²³ He who rebukes a man will afterward find more favor
    than he who flatters with his tongue.
²⁴ He who robs his father or his mother
    and says, “That is no transgression,”
    is the companion of a man who destroys.
²⁵ A greedy man stirs up strife,
    but he who trusts in the Lord will be enriched.
²⁶ He who trusts in his own mind is a fool;
    but he who walks in wisdom will be delivered.
²⁷ He who gives to the poor will not want,
    but he who hides his eyes will get many a curse.
²⁸ When the wicked rise, men hide themselves,
    but when they perish, the righteous increase.