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28 ¶ The wicked flee when no man pursues, but the righteous are bold as a young lion.

¶ By the rebellion of the land, many are its princes, but by the man of understanding and wisdom the land shall remain stable.

¶ A poor man that oppresses the poor is like a sweeping rain which leaves no food.

¶ Those that forsake the law praise the wicked, but such as keep the law contend with them.

¶ Evil men do not understand judgment, but those that seek the LORD understand all things.

¶ Better is the poor that walks in his perfection than he that is perverse in his ways, though he is rich.

¶ Whosoever keeps the law is a wise son, but he that is a companion of gluttons shames his father.

¶ He that by usury and unjust gain increases his substance, he shall gather it for him that will pity the poor.

¶ He that turns away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer shall be abomination.

10 ¶ Whosoever causes the upright to go astray in an evil way, he shall fall himself into his own pit, but the perfect shall inherit every good thing.

11 ¶ The rich man is wise in his own conceit, but the poor that has understanding is wiser than he.

12 ¶ When the righteous rejoice, there is great glory, but when the wicked rise, the sane man hides himself.

13 ¶ He that covers his sins shall not prosper, but whosoever confesses and forsakes them shall attain mercy.

14 ¶ Blessed is the man that fears God always, but he that hardens his heart shall fall into evil.

15 ¶ As a roaring lion and a hungry bear, so is a wicked ruler over the poor people.

16 ¶ The prince void of intelligence is also a great oppressor, but he that hates covetousness shall prolong his days.

17 ¶ A man that does violence to the blood of any person shall flee all the way to the grave, and no one shall sustain him.

18 ¶ Whosoever walks in integrity shall be saved, but he that is perverse in his ways shall fall into one of them.

19 ¶ He that tills his land shall be filled with bread, but he that follows after vain persons shall be filled with poverty.

20 ¶ The man of truth shall abound with blessings, but he that makes haste to be rich shall not be absolved.

21 ¶ To have respect of persons in judgment is not good; even for a piece of bread, man will transgress.

22 ¶ He that hastens to be rich has an evil eye and does not consider that poverty shall come upon him.

23 ¶ He that rebukes a man, afterwards shall find more favour than he that flatters with the tongue.

24 ¶ Whosoever robs his father or his mother and says, It is no transgression; the same is the companion of the destroyer.

25 ¶ He that is of a proud heart stirs up strife, but he that puts his trust in the LORD shall be made fat.

26 ¶ He that trusts in his own heart is a fool, but whosoever walks in wisdom, he shall be saved.

27 ¶ He that gives unto the poor shall never lack, but he that hides his eyes from the poor shall have many a curse.

28 ¶ When the wicked rise, sane men hide themselves; but when they perish, the righteous multiply.

28 The wicked flee(A) though no one pursues,(B)
    but the righteous are as bold as a lion.(C)

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.

Evildoers do not understand what is right,
    but those who seek the Lord understand it fully.

Better the poor whose walk is blameless
    than the rich whose ways are perverse.(D)

A discerning son heeds instruction,
    but a companion of gluttons disgraces his father.(E)

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)

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)

21 To show partiality(U) is not good(V)
    yet a person will do wrong for a piece of bread.(W)

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)

25 The greedy stir up conflict,(AB)
    but those who trust in the Lord(AC) will prosper.

26 Those who trust in themselves are fools,(AD)
    but those who walk in wisdom are kept safe.(AE)

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

  1. Proverbs 28:3 Or A poor person
  2. Proverbs 28:18 Syriac (see Septuagint); Hebrew into one