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Proverbs 28
The Voice
Proverbs 28
The Voice
28 The wicked run away even when no one is chasing them;
the right-living, however, stand their ground as boldly as lions.
2 Where there is rebellion in a land,
there are many petty and contending rulers;
But where there is a wise and intelligent leader,
peace and order endure.
3 A poor person who oppresses others who are poor
is like a driving rain that destroys the crops and leaves no food.
4 Those who turn their backs on God’s teaching applaud the wicked,
while those who observe His instruction oppose them at every turn.
5 Evil people are not able to understand justice,
but those who pursue the Eternal understand it completely.
6 It is better to be a pauper walking in integrity
than a dishonest man, even if he is rich.
7 Whoever follows God’s teaching is a wise child,
but the one who spends time with gluttons and drunks disgraces his parents.
8 Anyone who increases his wealth by charging a high rate of interest
is only collecting it for another who will deal more liberally with the poor.
9 The one who turns his ear from hearing God’s instruction
will find that even his prayers are detestable to God.
10 Whoever tries to deceive a good person into taking the path of evil
will fall into the pit he himself made,
but the truly honest shall be the heirs of all that is good.
11 A rich man may be wise in his own sight,
but a perceptive pauper will see right through him.
12 There is much glory when just men celebrate;
but when the wicked gain power, people take cover.
13 Whoever tries to hide his sins will not succeed,
but the one who confesses his sins and leaves them behind will find mercy.
14 Happy is the one who always fears the Lord,
but the person who hardens his heart to God falls into misfortune.
15 Like a roaring lion or a charging bear,
so is a wicked man ruling over an impoverished people.
16 A leader who lacks intelligence cruelly oppresses the people,
but one who hates corruption will prosper and live a long life.
17 A man guilty of murder is a fugitive,
fleeing to the nearest hole in the ground but not escaping death’s cold pit.
Don’t do anything to save him.
18 Whoever walks in honesty will be safe,
but whoever travels the crooked path will suddenly fall.
19 Whoever cultivates his land will have plenty of food in the harvest,
but whoever cultivates worthless ventures will have poverty in abundance.
20 A reliable person will not escape blessings,
but one who wants to get rich quick will not escape trouble.
21 Showing favoritism is not good;
some will desert the truth for a measly crust of bread.
22 A greedy person is in a hurry to get rich,
but he is ignorant of the loss that is about to overtake him.
23 A person who offers constructive criticism will, in the end, be appreciated more
than a person who engages in empty flattery.
24 One who robs his father or his mother
and says, “There’s nothing wrong with that! I had it coming!”
walks in the company of murderers.
25 When the greedy want more, they stir up trouble;
but when a person trusts in the Eternal, he’s sure to prosper.
26 Anyone who puts confidence only in himself is a fool,
but the person who follows wisdom will be kept safe.
27 Whoever gives to the poor will have what he needs,
but the one who shuts his eyes to their plight will face curse after curse.
28 When the wicked have the upper hand, people go into hiding;
but when they perish, the good folk will begin to increase.
Proverbs 28
Amplified Bible, Classic Edition
Proverbs 28
Amplified Bible, Classic Edition
28 The wicked flee when no man pursues them, but the [uncompromisingly] righteous are bold as a lion.(A)
2 When a land transgresses, it has many rulers, but when the ruler is a man of discernment, understanding, and knowledge, its stability will long continue.
3 A poor man who oppresses the poor is like a sweeping rain which leaves no food [plundering them of their last morsels].(B)
4 Those who forsake the law [of God and man] praise the wicked, but those who keep the law [of God and man] contend with them.(C)
5 Evil men do not understand justice, but they who crave and seek the Lord understand it fully.(D)
6 Better is the poor man who walks in his integrity than he who willfully goes in double and wrong ways, though he is rich.
7 Whoever keeps the law [of God and man] is a wise son, but he who is a companion of gluttons and the carousing, self-indulgent, and extravagant shames his father.
8 He who by charging excessive interest and who by unjust efforts to get gain increases his material possession gathers it for him [to spend] who is kind and generous to the poor.(E)
9 He who turns away his ear from hearing the law [of God and man], even his prayer is an abomination, hateful and revolting [to God].(F)
10 Whoever leads the upright astray into an evil way, he will himself fall into his own pit, but the blameless will have a goodly inheritance.
11 The rich man is wise in his own eyes and conceit, but the poor man who has understanding will find him out.
12 When the [uncompromisingly] righteous triumph, there is great glory and celebration; but when the wicked rise [to power], men hide themselves.
13 He who covers his transgressions will not prosper, but whoever confesses and forsakes his sins will obtain mercy.(G)
14 Blessed (happy, fortunate, and to be envied) is the man who reverently and worshipfully fears [the Lord] at all times [regardless of circumstances], but he who hardens his heart will fall into calamity.
15 Like a roaring lion or a ravenous and charging bear is a wicked ruler over a poor people.
16 A ruler who lacks understanding is [like a wicked one] a great oppressor, but he who hates covetousness and unjust gain shall prolong his days.
17 If a man willfully sheds the blood of a person [and keeps the guilt of murder upon his conscience], he is fleeing to the pit (the grave) and hastening to his own destruction; let no man stop him!
18 He who walks uprightly shall be safe, but he who willfully goes in double and wrong ways shall fall in one of them.
19 He who cultivates his land will have plenty of bread, but he who follows worthless people and pursuits will have poverty enough.
20 A faithful man shall abound with blessings, but he who makes haste to be rich [at any cost] shall not go unpunished.(H)
21 To have respect of persons and to show partiality is not good, neither is it good that man should transgress for a piece of bread.
22 He who has an evil and covetous eye hastens to be rich and knows not that want will come upon him.(I)
23 He who rebukes a man shall afterward find more favor than he who flatters with the tongue.
24 Whoever robs his father or his mother and says, This is no sin—he is in the same class as [an open, lawless robber and] a destroyer.
25 He who is of a greedy spirit stirs up strife, but he who puts his trust in the Lord shall be enriched and blessed.
26 He who leans on, trusts in, and is confident of his own mind and heart is a [self-confident] fool, but he who walks in skillful and godly Wisdom shall be delivered.(J)
27 He who gives to the poor will not want, but he who hides his eyes [from their want] will have many a curse.(K)
28 When the wicked rise [to power], men hide themselves; but when they perish, the [consistently] righteous increase and become many.(L)
Proverbs 28
New International Version
Proverbs 28
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.
Footnotes
- Proverbs 28:3 Or A poor person
- Proverbs 28:18 Syriac (see Septuagint); Hebrew into one
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