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When the people in a country refuse to obey the law,
    they will have many rulers.
But if a country has a wise ruler who understands what is right,
    it will continue to be strong.
A poor person who is cruel to helpless people
    is like a storm that destroys crops.[a]
People who do not obey the law praise wicked people.
    But people who obey the law speak against wicked people.

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Footnotes

  1. 28:3 ‘A poor person’ or ‘A wicked ruler’.

When a country is rebellious, it has many rulers,
    but a ruler with discernment and knowledge maintains order.

A ruler[a] who oppresses the poor
    is like a driving rain that leaves no crops.

Those who forsake instruction praise the wicked,
    but those who heed it resist them.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 28:3 Or A poor person