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28 The wicked run away even when no one is chasing them;
    the right-living, however, stand their ground as boldly as lions.
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.

A poor person who oppresses others who are poor
    is like a driving rain that destroys the crops and leaves no food.

Those who turn their backs on God’s teaching applaud the wicked,
    while those who observe His instruction oppose them at every turn.

Evil people are not able to understand justice,
    but those who pursue the Eternal understand it completely.

It is better to be a pauper walking in integrity
    than a dishonest man, even if he is rich.

Whoever follows God’s teaching is a wise child,
    but the one who spends time with gluttons and drunks disgraces his parents.

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.

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.

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