Proverbs 28–29

28^cThe wicked flee when no one pursues,

but ^dthe righteous are bold as a lion.

²When a land transgresses, ^eit has many rulers,

but with a man of understanding and knowledge,

its stability will long continue.

^3fA poor man who oppresses the poor

is a beating rain that leaves no food.

⁴Those who forsake the law ^gpraise the wicked,

but those who keep the law ^hstrive against them.

⁵Evil men ⁱdo not understand justice,

but those who seek the Lord ^junderstand it completely.

^6kBetter is a poor man who ^lwalks in his integrity

than a rich man who is ^lcrooked in his ways.

⁷The one who keeps the law is a son with understanding,

but ^ma companion of gluttons shames his father.

⁸Whoever multiplies his wealth ⁿby interest and profit¹

^ogathers it for him who is ^pgenerous to the poor.

⁹If one turns away his ear from hearing the law,

even his ^qprayer is an abomination.

¹⁰Whoever misleads the upright into an evil way

^rwill fall into his own pit,

but the blameless ^swill have a goodly inheritance.

¹¹A rich man is wise in his ^town eyes,

but a poor man who has understanding ^uwill find him out.

¹²When ^vthe righteous triumph, there is great glory,

but when ^wthe wicked rise, people hide themselves.

¹³Whoever ^xconceals his transgressions will not prosper,

but he who ^yconfesses and forsakes them will obtain mercy.

¹⁴Blessed is the one who ^zfears the Lord² always,

but whoever ^ahardens his heart will fall into calamity.

¹⁵Like ^ba roaring lion or ^ca charging bear

is ^da wicked ruler over a poor people.

¹⁶A ruler who ^elacks understanding is a cruel oppressor,

but he who hates unjust gain will prolong his days.

¹⁷If one is burdened with ^fthe blood of another,

he will be a fugitive until death;³

let no one help him.

^18gWhoever ^hwalks in integrity will be delivered,

but he who is crooked in his ways will suddenly fall.

¹⁹ⁱWhoever works his land will have plenty of bread,

but he who follows worthless pursuits will have plenty of poverty.

²⁰A faithful man will abound with blessings,

but whoever hastens to be rich ^jwill not go unpunished.

²¹To show ^kpartiality is not good,

but for ^la piece of bread a man will do wrong.

²²A ^mstingy man^{4 n}hastens after wealth

and does not know that ^opoverty will come upon him.

²³Whoever ^prebukes a man will afterward find more favor

than ^qhe who flatters with his tongue.

²⁴Whoever robs his father or his mother

and says, “That is no transgression,”

is ^ra companion to a man who destroys.

²⁵A greedy man ^sstirs up strife,

but the one who trusts in the Lord will ^tbe enriched.

²⁶Whoever ^utrusts in his own mind is a fool,

but he who walks in wisdom will be delivered.

²⁷Whoever ^vgives to the poor will not want,

but he who ^whides his eyes will get many a curse.

²⁸When ^xthe wicked rise, ^ypeople hide themselves,

but when they perish, the righteous increase.

29^zHe who is often reproved, yet stiffens his neck,

will suddenly be ^abroken ^bbeyond healing.

²When ^cthe righteous increase, the people rejoice,

but when ^dthe wicked rule, the people groan.

³He who ^eloves wisdom makes his father glad,

but ^fa companion of prostitutes ^gsquanders his wealth.

⁴By justice a king ^hbuilds up the land,

but he who exacts gifts¹ tears it down.

⁵ⁱA man who flatters his neighbor

spreads ^ja net for his feet.

⁶An evil man is ^kensnared in his transgression,

but a righteous man ^lsings and rejoices.

⁷A righteous man ^mknows the rights of the poor;

a wicked man does not ⁿunderstand such knowledge.

^8oScoffers set a city aflame,

but the wise turn away wrath.

⁹If a wise man has an argument with a fool,

the fool only rages and laughs, and there is ^pno quiet.

¹⁰Bloodthirsty men ^qhate one who is blameless

and seek the life of the upright.²

¹¹A fool gives full vent to his spirit,

but a wise man quietly holds it back.

¹²If a ruler listens to falsehood,

all his officials will be wicked.

¹³The poor man and the oppressor ^rmeet together;

the Lord ^sgives light to the eyes of both.

¹⁴If a king ^tfaithfully judges the poor,

his throne will ^ube established forever.

^15vThe rod and reproof give wisdom,

but a child left to himself ^wbrings shame to his mother.

¹⁶When the wicked increase, transgression increases,

but ^xthe righteous will look upon their downfall.

^17yDiscipline your son, and he will give you rest;

he will give delight to your heart.

¹⁸Where ^zthere is no prophetic vision the people ^acast off restraint,³

but blessed is he who ^bkeeps the law.

¹⁹By mere words a servant is not disciplined,

for though he understands, he will not respond.

²⁰Do you see a man who is hasty in his words?

^cThere is more hope for a fool than for him.

²¹Whoever pampers his servant from childhood

will in the end find him his heir.⁴

^22dA man of wrath stirs up strife,

and one given to anger causes much transgression.

^23eOne’s pride will bring him low,

^fbut he who is lowly in spirit will obtain honor.

²⁴The partner of a thief ^ghates his own life;

^hhe hears the curse, but discloses nothing.

²⁵ⁱThe fear of man lays a snare,

but whoever trusts in the Lord is safe.

²⁶Many ^jseek the face of a ruler,

but it is from the Lord that a man ^kgets justice.

^27lAn unjust man is an abomination to the righteous,

but one whose way is straight is an abomination to the wicked.