Proverbs 28:1–5
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.
Proverbs 28:1–5 — The New International Version (NIV)
1 The wicked flee though no one pursues,
but the righteous are as bold as a lion.
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.
Proverbs 28:1–5 — English Standard Version (ESV)
1 The wicked flee when no one pursues,
but the righteous are bold as a lion.
2 When a land transgresses, it has many rulers,
but with a man of understanding and knowledge,
its stability will long continue.
3 A poor man 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 strive against them.
5 Evil men do not understand justice,
but those who seek the Lord understand it completely.
Proverbs 28:1–5 — King James Version (KJV 1900)
1 The wicked flee when no man pursueth:
But the righteous are bold as a lion.
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.
Proverbs 28:1–5 — New Living Translation (NLT)
1 The wicked run away when no one is chasing them,
but the godly are as bold as lions.
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.
Proverbs 28:1–5 — The New King James Version (NKJV)
1 The wicked flee when no one pursues,
But the righteous are bold as a lion.
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.
Proverbs 28:1–5 — New Century Version (NCV)
1 Evil people run even though no one is chasing them,
but good people are as brave as a lion.
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.
Proverbs 28:1–5 — American Standard Version (ASV)
1 The wicked flee when no man pursueth;
But the righteous are bold as a lion.
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.
Proverbs 28:1–5 — 1890 Darby Bible (DARBY)
1 The wicked flee when no man pursueth; but the righteous are bold as a lion.
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.
Proverbs 28:1–5 — GOD’S WORD Translation (GW)
1 A wicked person flees when no one is chasing him,
but righteous people are as bold as lions.
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.
Proverbs 28:1–5 — The Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
1 The wicked flee when no one is pursuing them,
but the righteous are as bold as a lion.
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.
Proverbs 28:1–5 — The New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)
1 The wicked flee when no one pursues,
but the righteous are as bold as a lion.
2 When a land rebels
it has many rulers;
but with an intelligent ruler
there is lasting order.
3 A ruler 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.
Proverbs 28:1–5 — The Lexham English Bible (LEB)
1 The wicked flee, but no one pursues,
but the righteous is bold like a lion.
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.
Proverbs 28:1–5 — New International Reader’s Version (1998) (NIrV)
1 Sinners run away even when no one is chasing them.
But those who do what is right are as bold as lions.
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.