Proverbs 28

Chapter 28

Warnings and Instructions

¹The wicked ^aflee when no one is pursuing,

But the righteous are ¹bold as a lion.

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

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

³A ^apoor man who oppresses the lowly

Is like a driving rain ¹which leaves no food.

⁴Those who forsake the law ^apraise the wicked,

But those who keep the law ^bstrive with them.

⁵Evil men ^ado not understand justice,

But those who seek the Lord ^bunderstand all things.

^6aBetter is the poor who walks in his integrity

Than he who is ¹crooked though he be rich.

⁷He who keeps the law is a discerning son,

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

⁸He who increases his wealth by ^ainterest and usury

Gathers it ^bfor him who is gracious to the poor.

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

Even his ^aprayer is an abomination.

¹⁰He who leads the upright astray in an evil way

Will ^ahimself fall into his own pit,

But the ^bblameless will inherit good.

¹¹The rich man is ^awise in his own eyes,

But the poor who has understanding ¹sees through him.

¹²When the ^arighteous triumph, there is great glory,

But ^bwhen the wicked rise, men ¹hide themselves.

¹³He who ^aconceals his transgressions will not prosper,

But he who ^bconfesses and forsakes them will find compassion.

¹⁴How blessed is the man who ^afears always,

But he who ^bhardens his heart will fall into calamity.

¹⁵Like a ^aroaring lion and a rushing bear

Is a ^bwicked ruler over a poor people.

¹⁶A ^aleader who is a great oppressor lacks understanding,

But he who hates unjust gain will prolong his days.

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

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

¹⁸He who walks blamelessly will be delivered,

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

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

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

²⁰A ^afaithful man will abound with blessings,

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

²¹To ^1ashow partiality is not good,

^bBecause for a piece of bread a man will transgress.

²²A man with an ^aevil eye ^bhastens after wealth

And does not know that want will come upon him.

²³He who ^arebukes a man will afterward find more favor

Than he who ^bflatters with the tongue.

²⁴He who ^arobs his father or his mother

And says, “It is not a transgression,”

Is the ^bcompanion of a man who destroys.

²⁵An ¹arrogant man ^astirs up strife,

But he who ^btrusts in the Lord ^cwill ²prosper.

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

But he who walks wisely will be delivered.

²⁷He who ^agives to the poor will never want,

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

²⁸When the wicked rise, men hide themselves;

But when they perish, the righteous increase.