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Proverbs 28-29
New American Standard Bible
Proverbs 28-29
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.
Warnings and Instructions
29 A person [o]often (AS)rebuked who [p]becomes obstinate
Will (AT)suddenly be broken [q]beyond remedy.
2 When the (AU)righteous [r]increase, the people rejoice,
But when a wicked person rules, people groan.
3 A man who (AV)loves wisdom makes his father glad,
But he who (AW)involves himself with prostitutes wastes his wealth.
4 The (AX)king gives stability to the land by justice,
But a person who takes bribes ruins it.
5 A man who (AY)flatters his neighbor
Is spreading a net for his steps.
6 By wrongdoing an evil person is (AZ)ensnared,
But the righteous (BA)sings and rejoices.
7 The (BB)righteous [s]is concerned for the rights of the poor;
The wicked does not understand such [t]concern.
8 Arrogant people (BC)inflame a city,
But (BD)wise people turn away anger.
9 When a wise person has a controversy with a foolish person,
[u]The foolish person either rages or laughs, and there is no rest.
10 People of (BE)bloodshed hate the blameless person,
But the upright [v]are concerned for his life.
11 A (BF)fool [w]always loses his temper,
But a (BG)wise person holds it back.
12 If a (BH)ruler pays attention to falsehood,
All his ministers become wicked.
13 The (BI)poor person and the oppressor [x]have this in common:
The Lord gives (BJ)light to the eyes of both.
14 If a (BK)king judges the poor with truth,
His (BL)throne will be established forever.
15 The (BM)rod and a rebuke give wisdom,
But a child [y]who gets his own way (BN)brings shame to his mother.
16 When the wicked [z]increase, wrongdoing increases;
But the (BO)righteous will see their downfall.
17 (BP)Correct your son, and he will give you comfort;
He will also [aa](BQ)delight your soul.
18 Where there is (BR)no [ab]vision, the people (BS)are unrestrained,
But (BT)happy is one who keeps the Law.
19 A slave will not be instructed by words alone;
For though he understands, there will be no response.
20 Do you see a person who is (BU)hasty with his words?
There is (BV)more hope for a fool than for him.
21 One who pampers his slave from childhood
Will in the end find him to be rebellious.
22 An (BW)angry person stirs up strife,
And a hot-tempered person abounds in wrongdoing.
23 A person’s (BX)pride will bring him low,
But a (BY)humble spirit will obtain honor.
24 One who is a partner with a thief hates his own life;
He (BZ)hears the oath but tells nothing.
25 The (CA)fear of man [ac]brings a snare,
But one who (CB)trusts in the Lord will be protected.
26 (CC)Many seek the ruler’s [ad]favor,
But (CD)justice for mankind comes from the Lord.
27 An (CE)unjust person is an abomination to the righteous,
And one who is (CF)upright in the way is an abomination to the wicked.
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 29:1 Lit of rebukes who
- Proverbs 29:1 Lit hardens his neck
- Proverbs 29:1 Lit and there is no remedy
- Proverbs 29:2 Or become great
- Proverbs 29:7 Lit knows the cause
- Proverbs 29:7 Lit knowledge
- Proverbs 29:9 Lit He
- Proverbs 29:10 Lit seek his soul
- Proverbs 29:11 Lit sends forth all his spirit
- Proverbs 29:13 Lit meet together
- Proverbs 29:15 Lit left to himself
- Proverbs 29:16 Or become great
- Proverbs 29:17 Lit give delight to
- Proverbs 29:18 Or revelation
- Proverbs 29:25 Lit gives
- Proverbs 29:26 Lit face
Proverbs 28-29
New International Version
Proverbs 28-29
New International Version
2 When a country is rebellious, it has many rulers,
but a ruler with discernment and knowledge maintains order.
3 A ruler[a] who oppresses the poor
is like a driving rain that leaves no crops.
4 Those who forsake instruction praise the wicked,
but those who heed it resist them.
5 Evildoers do not understand what is right,
but those who seek the Lord understand it fully.
6 Better the poor whose walk is blameless
than the rich whose ways are perverse.(D)
7 A discerning son heeds instruction,
but a companion of gluttons disgraces his father.(E)
8 Whoever increases wealth by taking interest(F) or profit from the poor
amasses it for another,(G) who will be kind to the poor.(H)
9 If anyone turns a deaf ear to my instruction,
even their prayers are detestable.(I)
10 Whoever leads the upright along an evil path
will fall into their own trap,(J)
but the blameless will receive a good inheritance.
11 The rich are wise in their own eyes;
one who is poor and discerning sees how deluded they are.
12 When the righteous triumph, there is great elation;(K)
but when the wicked rise to power, people go into hiding.(L)
13 Whoever conceals their sins(M) does not prosper,
but the one who confesses(N) and renounces them finds mercy.(O)
14 Blessed is the one who always trembles before God,
but whoever hardens their heart falls into trouble.
15 Like a roaring lion or a charging bear
is a wicked ruler over a helpless people.
16 A tyrannical ruler practices extortion,
but one who hates ill-gotten gain will enjoy a long reign.
17 Anyone tormented by the guilt of murder
will seek refuge(P) in the grave;
let no one hold them back.
18 The one whose walk is blameless is kept safe,(Q)
but the one whose ways are perverse will fall(R) into the pit.[b]
19 Those who work their land will have abundant food,
but those who chase fantasies will have their fill of poverty.(S)
20 A faithful person will be richly blessed,
but one eager to get rich will not go unpunished.(T)
22 The stingy are eager to get rich
and are unaware that poverty awaits them.(X)
23 Whoever rebukes a person will in the end gain favor
rather than one who has a flattering tongue.(Y)
24 Whoever robs their father or mother(Z)
and says, “It’s not wrong,”
is partner to one who destroys.(AA)
27 Those who give to the poor will lack nothing,(AF)
but those who close their eyes to them receive many curses.(AG)
28 When the wicked rise to power, people go into hiding;(AH)
but when the wicked perish, the righteous thrive.
29 Whoever remains stiff-necked(AI) after many rebukes
will suddenly be destroyed(AJ)—without remedy.(AK)
2 When the righteous thrive, the people rejoice;(AL)
when the wicked rule,(AM) the people groan.(AN)
3 A man who loves wisdom brings joy to his father,(AO)
but a companion of prostitutes squanders his wealth.(AP)
4 By justice a king gives a country stability,(AQ)
but those who are greedy for[c] bribes tear it down.
5 Those who flatter their neighbors
are spreading nets for their feet.(AR)
6 Evildoers are snared by their own sin,(AS)
but the righteous shout for joy and are glad.
7 The righteous care about justice for the poor,(AT)
but the wicked have no such concern.
8 Mockers stir up a city,
but the wise turn away anger.(AU)
9 If a wise person goes to court with a fool,
the fool rages and scoffs, and there is no peace.
10 The bloodthirsty hate a person of integrity
and seek to kill the upright.(AV)
13 The poor and the oppressor have this in common:
The Lord gives sight to the eyes of both.(BA)
14 If a king judges the poor with fairness,
his throne will be established forever.(BB)
15 A rod and a reprimand impart wisdom,
but a child left undisciplined disgraces its mother.(BC)
16 When the wicked thrive, so does sin,
but the righteous will see their downfall.(BD)
17 Discipline your children, and they will give you peace;
they will bring you the delights you desire.(BE)
18 Where there is no revelation, people cast off restraint;
but blessed is the one who heeds wisdom’s instruction.(BF)
19 Servants cannot be corrected by mere words;
though they understand, they will not respond.
20 Do you see someone who speaks in haste?
There is more hope for a fool than for them.(BG)
21 A servant pampered from youth
will turn out to be insolent.
22 An angry person stirs up conflict,
and a hot-tempered person commits many sins.(BH)
24 The accomplices of thieves are their own enemies;
they are put under oath and dare not testify.(BK)
27 The righteous detest the dishonest;
the wicked detest the upright.(BQ)
Footnotes
- Proverbs 28:3 Or A poor person
- Proverbs 28:18 Syriac (see Septuagint); Hebrew into one
- Proverbs 29:4 Or who give
New American Standard Bible (NASB) 
New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. All rights reserved.
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