28 cThe wicked flee when no one pursues,

but dthe righteous are bold as a lion.

2  When a land transgresses, eit has many rulers,

but with a man of understanding and knowledge,

its stability will long continue.

3  fA poor man who oppresses the poor

is a beating rain that leaves no food.

4  Those who forsake the law gpraise the wicked,

but those who keep the law hstrive against them.

5  Evil men ido not understand justice,

but those who seek the Lord junderstand it completely.

6  kBetter is a poor man who lwalks in his integrity

than a rich man who is lcrooked in his ways.

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

but ma companion of gluttons shames his father.

8  Whoever multiplies his wealth nby interest and profit1

ogathers it for him who is pgenerous to the poor.

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

even his qprayer is an abomination.

10  Whoever misleads the upright into an evil way

rwill fall into his own pit,

but the blameless swill have a goodly inheritance.

11  A rich man is wise in his town eyes,

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

12  When vthe righteous triumph, there is great glory,

but when wthe wicked rise, people hide themselves.

13  Whoever xconceals his transgressions will not prosper,

but he who yconfesses and forsakes them will obtain mercy.

14  Blessed is the one who zfears the Lord2 always,

but whoever ahardens his heart will fall into calamity.

15  Like ba roaring lion or ca charging bear

is da wicked ruler over a poor people.

16  A ruler who elacks understanding is a cruel oppressor,

but he who hates unjust gain will prolong his days.

17  If one is burdened with fthe blood of another,

he will be a fugitive until death;3

let no one help him.

18  gWhoever hwalks in integrity will be delivered,

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

19  iWhoever works his land will have plenty of bread,

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

20  A faithful man will abound with blessings,

but whoever hastens to be rich jwill not go unpunished.

21  To show kpartiality is not good,

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

22  A mstingy man4 nhastens after wealth

and does not know that opoverty will come upon him.

23  Whoever prebukes a man will afterward find more favor

than qhe who flatters with his tongue.

24  Whoever robs his father or his mother

and says, “That is no transgression,”

is ra companion to a man who destroys.

25  A greedy man sstirs up strife,

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

26  Whoever utrusts in his own mind is a fool,

but he who walks in wisdom will be delivered.

27  Whoever vgives to the poor will not want,

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

28  When xthe wicked rise, ypeople hide themselves,

but when they perish, the righteous increase.