Chapter 28

Warnings and Instructions

1 The wicked aflee when no one is pursuing,

But the righteous are 1bold as a lion.

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

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

3 A apoor man who oppresses the lowly

Is like a driving rain 1which leaves no food.

4 Those who forsake the law apraise the wicked,

But those who keep the law bstrive with them.

5 Evil men ado not understand justice,

But those who seek the Lord bunderstand all things.

6 aBetter is the poor who walks in his integrity

Than he who is 1crooked though he be rich.

7 He who keeps the law is a discerning son,

But he who is a companion of agluttons humiliates his father.

8 He who increases his wealth by ainterest and usury

Gathers it bfor him who is gracious to the poor.

9 He who turns away his ear from listening to the law,

Even his aprayer is an abomination.

10 He who leads the upright astray in an evil way

Will ahimself fall into his own pit,

But the bblameless will inherit good.

11 The rich man is awise in his own eyes,

But the poor who has understanding 1sees through him.

12 When the arighteous triumph, there is great glory,

But bwhen the wicked rise, men 1hide themselves.

13 He who aconceals his transgressions will not prosper,

But he who bconfesses and forsakes them will find compassion.

14 How blessed is the man who afears always,

But he who bhardens his heart will fall into calamity.

15 Like a aroaring lion and a rushing bear

Is a bwicked ruler over a poor people.

16 A aleader who is a great oppressor lacks understanding,

But he who hates unjust gain will prolong his days.

17 A man who is aladen with the guilt of human blood

Will 1be a fugitive until death; let no one support him.

18 He who walks blamelessly will be delivered,

But he who is 1acrooked will fall all at once.

19 aHe who tills his land will bhave plenty of food,

But he who follows empty pursuits will have poverty in plenty.

20 A afaithful man will abound with blessings,

But he who bmakes haste to be rich will not go unpunished.

21 To 1ashow partiality is not good,

bBecause for a piece of bread a man will transgress.

22 A man with an aevil eye bhastens after wealth

And does not know that want will come upon him.

23 He who arebukes a man will afterward find more favor

Than he who bflatters with the tongue.

24 He who arobs his father or his mother

And says, “It is not a transgression,”

Is the bcompanion of a man who destroys.

25 An 1arrogant man astirs up strife,

But he who btrusts in the Lord cwill 2prosper.

26 He who atrusts in his own heart is a fool,

But he who walks wisely will be delivered.

27 He who agives to the poor will never want,

But he who 1shuts his eyes will have many curses.

28 When the wicked rise, men hide themselves;

But when they perish, the righteous increase.