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The Law of God Makes Sense

28 Wicked people run away
    when no one chases them,
but those who live right
    are as brave as lions.
In time of civil war
    there are many leaders,
but a sensible leader
    restores law and order.[a]
When someone poor takes over
    and mistreats the poor,
it's like a heavy rain
    destroying the crops.

Lawbreakers praise criminals,
but law-abiding citizens
    always oppose them.
Criminals don't know
    what justice means,
but all who respect the Lord
    understand it completely.
It's better to be poor
    and live right,
than to be rich
    and dishonest.

It makes good sense
    to obey the Law of God,
but you disgrace your parents
if you make friends
    with worthless nobodies.
If you make money by charging
    high interest rates,
you will lose it all to someone
    who cares for the poor.
God cannot stand the prayers
of anyone who disobeys
    his Law.
10 By leading good people to sin,
    you dig a pit for yourself,
but all who live right
    will have a bright future.

11 The rich think highly
    of themselves,
but anyone poor and sensible
    sees right through them.
12 When an honest person wins,
    it's time to celebrate;
when crooks are in control,
    it's best to hide.
13 If you don't confess your sins,
    you will be a failure.
But God will be merciful
if you confess your sins
    and give them up.
14 The Lord blesses everyone
    who is afraid to do evil,
but if you are cruel,
    you will end up in trouble.

15 A ruler who mistreats the poor
is like a roaring lion
    or a bear hunting for food.
16 A heartless leader is a fool,
    but anyone who refuses
to get rich by cheating others
    will live a long time.
17 Don't give help to murderers!
Make them stay on the run
    for as long as they live.[b]

18 Honesty will keep you safe,
but everyone who is crooked
    will suddenly fall.
19 Work hard, and you will have
    a lot of food;
waste time, and you will have
    a lot of trouble.

20 God blesses his loyal people,
but punishes all who want
    to get rich quick.
21 It isn't right to be unfair,
but some people can be bribed
    with only a piece of bread.
22 Don't be selfish
    and eager to get rich—
you will end up worse off
    than you can imagine.

23 Honest correction
is appreciated
    more than flattery.
24 If you cheat your parents
and don't think it's wrong,
    you are a common thief.
25 Selfish people cause trouble,
but you will live a full life
    if you trust the Lord.
26 Only fools would trust
    what they alone think,
but if you live by wisdom,
    you will do all right.

27 Giving to the poor
    will keep you from poverty,
but if you close your eyes
to their needs,
    everyone will curse you.
28 When crooks are in control,
    everyone tries to hide,
but when they lose power,
    good people are everywhere.

Footnotes

  1. 28.2 but … order: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text.
  2. 28.17 live: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text of verse 17.

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