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28 The wicked flee when no one pursues;
    but the righteous are as bold as a lion.
In rebellion, a land has many rulers,
    but order is maintained by a man of understanding and knowledge.
A needy man who oppresses the poor
    is like a driving rain which leaves no crops.
Those who forsake the law praise the wicked;
    but those who keep the law contend with them.
Evil men don’t understand justice;
    but those who seek Yahweh understand it fully.
Better is the poor who walks in his integrity,
    than he who is perverse in his ways, and he is rich.
Whoever keeps the law is a wise son;
    but he who is a companion of gluttons shames his father.
He who increases his wealth by excessive interest
    gathers it for one who has pity on the poor.
He who turns away his ear from hearing the law,
    even his prayer is an abomination.
10 Whoever causes the upright to go astray in an evil way,
    he will fall into his own trap;
    but the blameless will inherit good.
11 The rich man is wise in his own eyes;
    but the poor who has understanding sees through him.
12 When the righteous triumph, there is great glory;
    but when the wicked rise, men hide themselves.
13 He who conceals his sins doesn’t prosper,
    but whoever confesses and renounces them finds mercy.
14 Blessed is the man who always fears;
    but one who hardens his heart falls into trouble.
15 As a roaring lion or a charging bear,
    so is a wicked ruler over helpless people.
16 A tyrannical ruler lacks judgment.
    One who hates ill-gotten gain will have long days.
17 A man who is tormented by life blood will be a fugitive until death;
    no one will support him.
18 Whoever walks blamelessly is kept safe;
    but one with perverse ways will fall suddenly.
19 One who works his land will have an abundance of food;
    but one who chases fantasies will have his fill of poverty.
20 A faithful man is rich with blessings;
    but one who is eager to be rich will not go unpunished.
21 To show partiality is not good;
    yet a man will do wrong for a piece of bread.
22 A stingy man hurries after riches,
    and doesn’t know that poverty waits for him.
23 One who rebukes a man will afterward find more favor
    than one who flatters with the tongue.
24 Whoever robs his father or his mother and says, “It’s not wrong,”
    is a partner with a destroyer.
25 One who is greedy stirs up strife;
    but one who trusts in Yahweh will prosper.
26 One who trusts in himself is a fool;
    but one who walks in wisdom is kept safe.
27 One who gives to the poor has no lack;
    but one who closes his eyes will have many curses.
28 When the wicked rise, men hide themselves;
    but when they perish, the righteous thrive.

28 (A)The wicked flee when no one pursues,
    but (B)the righteous are bold as a lion.
When a land transgresses, (C)it has many rulers,
    but with a man of understanding and knowledge,
    its stability will long continue.
(D)A poor man who oppresses the poor
    is a beating rain that leaves no food.
Those who forsake the law (E)praise the wicked,
    but those who keep the law (F)strive against them.
Evil men (G)do not understand justice,
    but those who seek the Lord (H)understand it completely.
(I)Better is a poor man who (J)walks in his integrity
    than a rich man who is (K)crooked in his ways.
The one who keeps the law is a son with understanding,
    but (L)a companion of gluttons shames his father.
Whoever multiplies his wealth (M)by interest and profit[a]
    (N)gathers it for him who is (O)generous to the poor.
If one turns away his ear from hearing the law,
    even his (P)prayer is an abomination.
10 Whoever misleads the upright into an evil way
    (Q)will fall into his own pit,
    but the blameless (R)will have a goodly inheritance.
11 A rich man is wise in his (S)own eyes,
    but a poor man who has understanding (T)will find him out.
12 When (U)the righteous triumph, there is great glory,
    but when (V)the wicked rise, people hide themselves.
13 Whoever (W)conceals his transgressions will not prosper,
    but he who (X)confesses and forsakes them will obtain mercy.
14 Blessed is the one who (Y)fears the Lord[b] always,
    but whoever (Z)hardens his heart will fall into calamity.
15 Like (AA)a roaring lion or (AB)a charging bear
    is (AC)a wicked ruler over a poor people.
16 A ruler who (AD)lacks understanding is a cruel oppressor,
    but he who hates unjust gain will prolong his days.
17 If one is burdened with (AE)the blood of another,
    he will be a fugitive until death;[c]
    let no one help him.
18 (AF)Whoever (AG)walks in integrity will be delivered,
    but he who is crooked in his ways will suddenly fall.
19 (AH)Whoever works 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 whoever hastens to be rich (AI)will not go unpunished.
21 To show (AJ)partiality is not good,
    but for (AK)a piece of bread a man will do wrong.
22 A (AL)stingy man[d] (AM)hastens after wealth
    and does not know that (AN)poverty will come upon him.
23 Whoever (AO)rebukes a man will afterward find more favor
    than (AP)he who flatters with his tongue.
24 Whoever robs his father or his mother
    and says, “That is no transgression,”
    is (AQ)a companion to a man who destroys.
25 A greedy man (AR)stirs up strife,
    but the one who trusts in the Lord will (AS)be enriched.
26 Whoever (AT)trusts in his own mind is a fool,
    but he who walks in wisdom will be delivered.
27 Whoever (AU)gives to the poor will not want,
    but he who (AV)hides his eyes will get many a curse.
28 When (AW)the wicked rise, (AX)people hide themselves,
    but when they perish, the righteous increase.

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 28:8 That is, profit that comes from charging interest to the poor
  2. Proverbs 28:14 Hebrew lacks the Lord
  3. Proverbs 28:17 Hebrew until the pit
  4. Proverbs 28:22 Hebrew A man whose eye is evil