Proverbs 28–29

28Sinners run away even when no one is chasing them.

But those who do what is right are as bold as lions.

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

But an understanding king knows how to keep order.

³A ruler who beats poor people down

is like a pounding rain that leaves no crops.

⁴Those who turn away from the law praise sinners.

But those who obey the law oppose them.

⁵Sinful men don’t understand what is fair.

But those who worship the Lord understand it completely.

⁶It is better to be poor and live without blame

than to be rich and follow a crooked path.

⁷A child who obeys the law understands what is right.

But a child who likes to eat too much brings shame on his father.

⁸A person who increases his wealth by charging high interest

piles it up for someone who will be kind to poor people.

⁹If you don’t pay attention to the law,

even your prayers are hated.

¹⁰Those who lead honest people down an evil path

will fall into their own trap.

But those who are without blame

will receive good things.

¹¹Rich people may be wise in their own eyes.

But a poor person who understands what is right knows what they are really like.

¹²When godly people win, everyone is very happy.

But when sinners take charge, everyone hides.

¹³Anyone who hides his sins doesn’t succeed.

But anyone who admits his sins and gives them up finds mercy.

¹⁴Blessed is the one who always has respect for the Lord.

But anyone who is stubborn will get into trouble.

¹⁵An evil person who rules over helpless people

is like a roaring lion or an angry bear.

¹⁶A ruler who is mean to his people doesn’t have any sense.

But anyone who hates money gained in the wrong way will enjoy a long life.

¹⁷A man who is troubled because he is guilty of murder

will be on the run until the day he dies.

No one should give him any help.

¹⁸Anyone who lives without blame is kept safe.

But anyone whose path is crooked will suddenly fall.

¹⁹Anyone who farms his land will have plenty of food.

But anyone who chases dreams will be very poor.

²⁰A faithful man will be richly blessed.

But anyone who wants to get rich will be punished.

²¹Favoring one person over another is not good.

But some men will do wrong for a piece of bread.

²²A man who won’t share what he has wants to get rich.

He doesn’t know he is going to be poor.

²³It is better to warn a man than to pretend to praise him.

In the end he will be more pleased with you.

²⁴Anyone who steals from his parents and says, “It’s not wrong,”

is just like a man who destroys.

²⁵A person who always wants more stirs up fights.

But anyone who trusts in the Lord will succeed.

²⁶Anyone who trusts in himself is foolish.

But a person who lives wisely is kept safe.

²⁷Those who give to poor people

will have everything they need.

But those who close their eyes to the poor

will be under many curses.

²⁸When those who are evil take charge, other people hide.

But when those who are evil die, godly people grow stronger.

29A man who still won’t obey after being warned many times

will suddenly be destroyed. Nothing can save him.

²When those who do right grow stronger, the people are glad.

But when those who do wrong become rulers, the people groan.

³A man who loves wisdom makes his father glad.

But a man who spends time with prostitutes wastes his father’s wealth.

⁴By doing what is fair, a king makes a country secure.

But the one who wants to be paid off tears it down.

⁵A man who only pretends to praise his neighbor

is spreading a net to catch him by the feet.

⁶A sinful man is trapped by his own sin.

But a godly person can sing and be glad.

⁷Those who do what is right want to treat poor people fairly.

But those who do what is wrong don’t care about the poor.

⁸Those who make fun of others stir up a city.

But wise people turn anger away.

⁹Suppose a wise man goes to court with a foolish person.

Then the foolish person gets mad and pokes fun. And there is no peace.

¹⁰Murderers hate honest people.

They try to kill those who do what is right.

¹¹A foolish person lets his anger run wild.

But a wise person keeps himself under control.

¹²If rulers listen to lies,

all their officials become evil.

¹³The Lord gives sight to the eyes of poor people and those who beat others down.

That’s what they both have in common.

¹⁴If a king judges poor people fairly,

his throne will always be secure.

¹⁵If a child is corrected, he becomes wise.

But a child left to himself brings shame to his mother.

¹⁶When those who do wrong grow stronger, so does sin.

But those who do right will see them destroyed.

¹⁷If you train your children, they will give you peace.

They will bring delight to you.

¹⁸Where there is no message from God, the people don’t control themselves.

But blessed are those who obey the law.

¹⁹A servant can’t be corrected only by words.

Even if he understands, he won’t obey.

²⁰Have you seen a man who speaks without thinking?

There is more hope for foolish people than for him.

²¹If you spoil your servant while he is young,

he will bring you sorrow later on.

²²An angry man stirs up fights.

And a person who burns with anger commits many sins.

²³If a man is proud, he will be made low.

But if he isn’t proud, he will be honored.

²⁴Anyone who helps a thief is his own enemy.

When he is put under oath, he doesn’t dare give witness.

²⁵If you are afraid of people, it will trap you.

But if you trust in the Lord, he will keep you safe.

²⁶Many people want to meet a ruler.

But only the Lord sees that people are treated fairly.

²⁷Those who do what is right hate dishonest people.

Those who do what is wrong hate honest people.