28 Sinners run away even when no one is chasing them.
    But those who do what is right are as bold as lions.

² A country has many rulers when its people don’t obey.
    But an understanding ruler knows how to keep order.

³ A ruler who treats poor people badly
    is like a pounding rain that leaves no crops.

⁴ Those who turn away from instruction praise sinners.
    But those who learn from it oppose them.

⁵ Sinful people don’t understand what is right.
    But those who worship the Lord understand it completely.

⁶ It is better to be poor and live without blame
    than to be rich and follow a crooked path.

⁷ A child who understands what is right learns from instruction.
    But a child who likes to eat too much brings shame on his father.

⁸ Someone might get rich by taking interest or profit from poor people.
    But that person only piles up wealth for someone who will be kind to poor people.

⁹ If you don’t pay attention to my instruction,
    even your prayers are hated.

¹⁰ Those who lead honest people down an evil path
    will fall into their own trap.
But those who are without blame
    will receive good things.

¹¹ Rich people may think they are wise.
    But a poor person with understanding knows that rich people are fooling themselves.

¹² When godly people win, everyone is very happy.
    But when sinners take charge, everyone hides.

¹³ Anyone who hides their sins doesn’t succeed.
    But anyone who admits their sins and gives them up finds mercy.

¹⁴ Blessed is the one who always trembles in front of God.
    But anyone who makes their heart stubborn will get into trouble.

¹⁵ An evil person who rules over helpless people
    is like a roaring lion or an angry bear.

¹⁶ A ruler who is mean to his people takes money from them by force.
    But one who hates money gained in the wrong way will rule a long time.

¹⁷ Anyone troubled by the guilt of murder
    will seek to escape their guilt by death.
    No one should keep them from it.

¹⁸ Anyone who lives without blame is kept safe.
    But anyone whose path is crooked will fall into the pit.

¹⁹ Those who work their land will have plenty of food.
    But those who chase dreams will be very poor.

²⁰ A faithful person will be richly blessed.
    But anyone who wants to get rich will be punished.

²¹ Favoring one person over another is not good.
    But a person will do wrong for a piece of bread.

²² Those who won’t share what they have want to get rich.
    They don’t know they are going to be poor.

²³ It is better to warn a person than to pretend to praise them.
    In the end that person will be more pleased with you.

²⁴ Anyone who steals from their parents and says, “It’s not wrong,”
    is just like someone who destroys.

²⁵ People who always want more stir up conflict.
    But those who trust in the Lord will succeed.

²⁶ Those who trust in themselves are foolish.
    But those who live wisely are kept safe.

²⁷ Those who give to poor people will have all they need.
    But those who close their eyes to the poor will receive many curses.

²⁸ When those who are evil take charge, other people hide.
    But when those who are evil die, godly people grow stronger.