Proverbs 28:2–6

2 When a country is rebellious, it has many rulers,

but a ruler with discernment and knowledge maintains order.

3 A ruler who oppresses the poor

is like a driving rain that leaves no crops.

4 Those who forsake instruction praise the wicked,

but those who heed it resist them.

5 Evildoers do not understand what is right,

but those who seek the Lord understand it fully.

6 Better the poor whose walk is blameless

than the rich whose ways are perverse.

2 For the transgression of a land many are the princes thereof:

But by a man of understanding and knowledge the state thereof shall be prolonged.

3 A poor man that oppresseth the poor

Is like a sweeping rain which leaveth no food.

4 They that forsake the law praise the wicked:

But such as keep the law contend with them.

5 Evil men understand not judgment:

But they that seek the Lord understand all things.

6 Better is the poor that walketh in his uprightness,

Than he that is perverse in his ways, though he be rich.

2 When there is moral rot within a nation, its government topples easily.

But wise and knowledgeable leaders bring stability.

3 A poor person who oppresses the poor

is like a pounding rain that destroys the crops.

4 To reject the law is to praise the wicked;

to obey the law is to fight them.

5 Evil people don’t understand justice,

but those who follow the Lord understand completely.

6 Better to be poor and honest

than to be dishonest and rich.

2 Because of the transgression of a land, many are its princes;

But by a man of understanding and knowledge

Right will be prolonged.

3 A poor man who oppresses the poor

Is like a driving rain which leaves no food.

4 Those who forsake the law praise the wicked,

But such as keep the law contend with them.

5 Evil men do not understand justice,

But those who seek the Lord understand all.

6 Better is the poor who walks in his integrity

Than one perverse in his ways, though he be rich.

2 When a country is lawless, it has one ruler after another;

but when it is led by a leader with understanding and knowledge, it continues strong.

3 Rulers who mistreat the poor

are like a hard rain that destroys the crops.

4 Those who disobey what they have been taught praise the wicked,

but those who obey what they have been taught are against them.

5 Evil people do not understand justice,

but those who follow the Lord understand it completely.

6 It is better to be poor and innocent

than to be rich and wicked.

2 For the transgression of a land many are the princes thereof;

But by men of understanding and knowledge the state thereof shall be prolonged.

3 A needy man that oppresseth the poor

Is like a sweeping rain which leaveth no food.

4 They that forsake the law praise the wicked;

But such as keep the law contend with them.

5 Evil men understand not justice;

But they that seek Jehovah understand all things.

6 Better is the poor that walketh in his integrity,

Than he that is perverse in his ways, though he be rich.

2 By the transgression of a land many are the princes thereof; but by a man of understanding and of knowledge, its stability is prolonged.

3 A poor man who oppresseth the helpless is a sweeping rain which leaveth no food.

4 They that forsake the law praise the wicked; but such as keep the law contend with them.

5 Evil men understand not judgment; but they that seek Jehovah understand everything.

6 Better is the poor that walketh in his integrity, than he that is perverse, double in ways, though he be rich.

2 When a country is in revolt, it has many rulers, 

but only with a person who has understanding and knowledge 

will it last a long time. 

3 A poor person who oppresses poorer people 

is like a driving rain that leaves no food. 

4 Those who abandon ⸤God’s⸥ teachings praise wicked people, 

but those who follow ⸤God’s⸥ teachings oppose wicked people. 

5 Evil people do not understand justice, 

but those who seek the Lord understand everything. 

6 Better to be a poor person who has integrity 

than to be rich and double-dealing. 

2 When a land is in rebellion, it has many rulers,

but with a discerning and knowledgeable person, it endures.

3 A destitute leader who oppresses the poor

is like a driving rain that leaves no food.

4 Those who reject the law praise the wicked,

but those who keep the law battle against them.

5 Evil men do not understand justice,

but those who seek the Lord understand everything.

6 Better a poor man who lives with integrity

than a rich man who distorts right and wrong.

2 When a land rebels

it has many rulers;

but with an intelligent person, honesty endures.

3 A poor person who oppresses the poor

is a beating rain that leaves no food.

4 Those who forsake the law praise the wicked,

but those who keep the law struggle against them.

5 The evil do not understand justice,

but those who seek the Lord understand it completely.

6 Better to be poor and walk in integrity

than to be crooked in one’s ways even though rich.

2 By the rebellion of a land, her rulers increase,

but by a person of intelligence who knows justice, it will last.

3 A man who is poor and oppresses the impoverished

is a beating rain that leaves no food.

4 Those who forsake instruction will praise the wicked,

but they who guard instruction will struggle against them.

5 Men of evil do not understand justice,

but seekers of Yahweh understand completely.

6 Better to be poor and walking in one’s integrity

than to be crooked of ways when one is rich.

2 A country has many rulers when its people don’t obey.

But an understanding king knows how to keep order.

3 A ruler who beats poor people down

is like a pounding rain that leaves no crops.

4 Those who turn away from the law praise sinners.

But those who obey the law oppose them.

5 Sinful men don’t understand what is fair.

But those who worship the Lord understand it completely.

6 It is better to be poor and live without blame

than to be rich and follow a crooked path.

2 By the transgression of a land many are its princes,

But by a man of understanding and knowledge, so it endures.

3 A poor man who oppresses the lowly

Is like a driving rain which leaves no food.

4 Those who forsake the law praise the wicked,

But those who keep the law strive with them.

5 Evil men do not understand justice,

But those who seek the Lord understand all things.

6 Better is the poor who walks in his integrity

Than he who is crooked though he be rich.