Proverbs 27:18-28:28

English Standard Version

^23 (H)Know well the condition of your flocks,
    and ^(I)give attention to your herds,
²⁴ for ^(J)riches do not last forever;
    and does a crown endure to all generations?
^25 (K)When the grass is gone and the new growth appears
    and the vegetation of the mountains is gathered,
^26 (L)the lambs will provide your clothing,
    and the goats the price of a field.
^27 (M)There will be enough goats' milk for your food,
    for the food of your household
    and maintenance for your girls.
28 ^(N)The wicked flee when no one pursues,
    but ^(O)the righteous are bold as a lion.
² When a land transgresses, ^(P)it has many rulers,
    but with a man of understanding and knowledge,
    its stability will long continue.
^3 (Q)A poor man who oppresses the poor
    is a beating rain that leaves no food.
⁴ Those who forsake the law ^(R)praise the wicked,
    but those who keep the law ^(S)strive against them.
⁵ Evil men ^(T)do not understand justice,
    but those who seek the Lord ^(U)understand it completely.
^6 (V)Better is a poor man who ^(W)walks in his integrity
    than a rich man who is ^(X)crooked in his ways.
⁷ The one who keeps the law is a son with understanding,
    but ^(Y)a companion of gluttons shames his father.
⁸ Whoever multiplies his wealth ^(Z)by interest and profit^{[a]
    (AA)}gathers it for him who is ^(AB)generous to the poor.
⁹ If one turns away his ear from hearing the law,
    even his ^(AC)prayer is an abomination.
¹⁰ Whoever misleads the upright into an evil way
    ^(AD)will fall into his own pit,
    but the blameless ^(AE)will have a goodly inheritance.
¹¹ A rich man is wise in his ^(AF)own eyes,
    but a poor man who has understanding ^(AG)will find him out.
¹² When ^(AH)the righteous triumph, there is great glory,
    but when ^(AI)the wicked rise, people hide themselves.
¹³ Whoever ^(AJ)conceals his transgressions will not prosper,
    but he who ^(AK)confesses and forsakes them will obtain mercy.
¹⁴ Blessed is the one who ^(AL)fears the Lord^[b] always,
    but whoever ^(AM)hardens his heart will fall into calamity.
¹⁵ Like ^(AN)a roaring lion or ^(AO)a charging bear
    is ^(AP)a wicked ruler over a poor people.
¹⁶ A ruler who ^(AQ)lacks understanding is a cruel oppressor,
    but he who hates unjust gain will prolong his days.
¹⁷ If one is burdened with ^(AR)the blood of another,
    he will be a fugitive until death;^[c]
    let no one help him.
^18 (AS)Whoever ^(AT)walks in integrity will be delivered,
    but he who is crooked in his ways will suddenly fall.
^19 (AU)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 ^(AV)will not go unpunished.
²¹ To show ^(AW)partiality is not good,
    but for ^(AX)a piece of bread a man will do wrong.
²² A ^(AY)stingy man^{[d] (AZ)}hastens after wealth
    and does not know that ^(BA)poverty will come upon him.
²³ Whoever ^(BB)rebukes a man will afterward find more favor
    than ^(BC)he who flatters with his tongue.
²⁴ Whoever robs his father or his mother
    and says, “That is no transgression,”
    is ^(BD)a companion to a man who destroys.
²⁵ A greedy man ^(BE)stirs up strife,
    but the one who trusts in the Lord will ^(BF)be enriched.
²⁶ Whoever ^(BG)trusts in his own mind is a fool,
    but he who walks in wisdom will be delivered.
²⁷ Whoever ^(BH)gives to the poor will not want,
    but he who ^(BI)hides his eyes will get many a curse.
²⁸ When ^(BJ)the wicked rise, ^(BK)people hide themselves,
    but when they perish, the righteous increase.