Proverbs 28–29

28Evil people run even though no one is chasing them,

but good people are as brave as a lion.

²When 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.

³Rulers who mistreat the poor

are like a hard rain that destroys the crops.

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

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

⁵Evil people do not understand justice,

but those who follow the Lord understand it completely.

⁶It is better to be poor and innocent

than to be rich and wicked.

⁷Children who obey what they have been taught are wise,

but friends of troublemakers disgrace their parents.

⁸Some people get rich by overcharging others,

but their wealth will be given to those who are kind to the poor.

⁹If you refuse to obey what you have been taught,

your prayers will not be heard.

¹⁰Those who lead good people to do wrong

will be ruined by their own evil,

but the innocent will be rewarded with good things.

¹¹Rich people may think they are wise,

but the poor with understanding will prove them wrong.

¹²When good people triumph, there is great happiness,

but when the wicked get control, everybody hides.

¹³If you hide your sins, you will not succeed.

If you confess and reject them, you will receive mercy.

¹⁴Those who are always respectful will be happy,

but those who are stubborn will get into trouble.

¹⁵A wicked ruler is as dangerous to poor people

as a roaring lion or a charging bear.

¹⁶A ruler without wisdom will be cruel,

but the one who refuses to take dishonest money will rule a long time.

¹⁷Don’t help those who are guilty of murder;

let them run until they die.

¹⁸Innocent people will be kept safe,

but those who are dishonest will suddenly be ruined.

¹⁹Those who work their land will have plenty of food,

but the ones who chase empty dreams instead will end up poor.

²⁰A truthful person will have many blessings,

but those eager to get rich will be punished.

²¹It is not good for a judge to take sides,

but some will sin for only a piece of bread.

²²Selfish people are in a hurry to get rich

and do not realize they soon will be poor.

²³Those who correct others will later be liked

more than those who give false praise.

²⁴Whoever robs father or mother

and says, “It’s not wrong,”

is just like someone who destroys things.

²⁵A greedy person causes trouble,

but the one who trusts the Lord will succeed.

²⁶Those who trust in themselves are foolish,

but those who live wisely will be kept safe.

²⁷Whoever gives to the poor will have everything he needs,

but the one who ignores the poor will receive many curses.

²⁸When the wicked get control, everybody hides,

but when they die, good people do well.

29Whoever is stubborn after being corrected many times

will suddenly be hurt beyond cure.

²When good people do well, everyone is happy,

but when evil people rule, everyone groans.

³Those who love wisdom make their parents happy,

but friends of prostitutes waste their money.

⁴If a king is fair, he makes his country strong,

but if he takes gifts dishonestly, he tears his country down.

⁵Those who give false praise to their neighbors

are setting a trap for them.

⁶Evil people are trapped by their own sin,

but good people can sing and be happy.

⁷Good people care about justice for the poor,

but the wicked are not concerned.

⁸People who make fun of wisdom cause trouble in a city,

but wise people calm anger down.

⁹When a wise person takes a foolish person to court,

the fool only shouts or laughs, and there is no peace.

¹⁰Murderers hate an honest person

and try to kill those who do right.

¹¹Foolish people lose their tempers,

but wise people control theirs.

¹²If a ruler pays attention to lies,

all his officers will become wicked.

¹³The poor person and the cruel person are alike

in that the Lord gave eyes to both of them.

¹⁴If a king judges poor people fairly,

his government will continue forever.

¹⁵Correction and punishment make children wise,

but those left alone will disgrace their mother.

¹⁶When there are many wicked people, there is much sin,

but those who do right will see them destroyed.

¹⁷Correct your children, and you will be proud;

they will give you satisfaction.

¹⁸Where there is no word from God, people are uncontrolled,

but those who obey what they have been taught are happy.

¹⁹Words alone cannot correct a servant,

because even if they understand, they won’t respond.

²⁰Do you see people who speak too quickly?

There is more hope for a foolish person than for them.

²¹If you spoil your servants when they are young,

they will bring you grief later on.

²²An angry person causes trouble;

a person with a quick temper sins a lot.

²³Pride will ruin people,

but those who are humble will be honored.

²⁴Partners of thieves are their own worst enemies.

If they have to testify in court, they are afraid to say anything.

²⁵Being afraid of people can get you into trouble,

but if you trust the Lord, you will be safe.

²⁶Many people want to speak to a ruler,

but justice comes only from the Lord.

²⁷Good people hate those who are dishonest,

and the wicked hate those who are honest.