Proverbs 28–29

28The wicked flee^u though no one pursues,^v

but the righteous are as bold as a lion.^w

²When a country is rebellious, it has many rulers,

but a ruler with discernment and knowledge maintains order.

³A ruler^a who oppresses the poor

is like a driving rain that leaves no crops.

⁴Those who forsake instruction praise the wicked,

but those who heed it resist them.

⁵Evildoers do not understand what is right,

but those who seek the Lord understand it fully.

⁶Better the poor whose walk is blameless

than the rich whose ways are perverse.^x

⁷A discerning son heeds instruction,

but a companion of gluttons disgraces his father.^y

⁸Whoever increases wealth by taking interest^z or profit from the poor

amasses it for another,^a who will be kind to the poor.^b

⁹If anyone turns a deaf ear to my instruction,

even their prayers are detestable.^c

¹⁰Whoever leads the upright along an evil path

will fall into their own trap,^d

but the blameless will receive a good inheritance.

¹¹The rich are wise in their own eyes;

one who is poor and discerning sees how deluded they are.

¹²When the righteous triumph, there is great elation;^e

but when the wicked rise to power, people go into hiding.^f

¹³Whoever conceals their sins^g does not prosper,

but the one who confesses^h and renounces them finds mercy.ⁱ

¹⁴Blessed is the one who always trembles before God,

but whoever hardens their heart falls into trouble.

¹⁵Like a roaring lion or a charging bear

is a wicked ruler over a helpless people.

¹⁶A tyrannical ruler practices extortion,

but one who hates ill-gotten gain will enjoy a long reign.

¹⁷Anyone tormented by the guilt of murder

will seek refuge^j in the grave;

let no one hold them back.

¹⁸The one whose walk is blameless is kept safe,^k

but the one whose ways are perverse will fall^l into the pit.^b

¹⁹Those who work their land will have abundant food,

but those who chase fantasies will have their fill of poverty.^m

²⁰A faithful person will be richly blessed,

but one eager to get rich will not go unpunished.ⁿ

²¹To show partiality^o is not good^p—

yet a person will do wrong for a piece of bread.^q

²²The stingy are eager to get rich

and are unaware that poverty awaits them.^r

²³Whoever rebukes a person will in the end gain favor

rather than one who has a flattering tongue.^s

²⁴Whoever robs their father or mother^t

and says, “It’s not wrong,”

is partner to one who destroys.^u

²⁵The greedy stir up conflict,^v

but those who trust in the Lord^w will prosper.

²⁶Those who trust in themselves are fools,^x

but those who walk in wisdom are kept safe.^y

²⁷Those who give to the poor will lack nothing,^z

but those who close their eyes to them receive many curses.^a

²⁸When the wicked rise to power, people go into hiding;^b

but when the wicked perish, the righteous thrive.

29Whoever remains stiff-necked^c after many rebukes

will suddenly be destroyed^d—without remedy.^e

²When the righteous thrive, the people rejoice;^f

when the wicked rule,^g the people groan.^h

³A man who loves wisdom brings joy to his father,ⁱ

but a companion of prostitutes squanders his wealth.^j

⁴By justice a king gives a country stability,^k

but those who are greedy for^a bribes tear it down.

⁵Those who flatter their neighbors

are spreading nets for their feet.^l

⁶Evildoers are snared by their own sin,^m

but the righteous shout for joy and are glad.

⁷The righteous care about justice for the poor,ⁿ

but the wicked have no such concern.

⁸Mockers stir up a city,

but the wise turn away anger.^o

⁹If a wise person goes to court with a fool,

the fool rages and scoffs, and there is no peace.

¹⁰The bloodthirsty hate a person of integrity

and seek to kill the upright.^p

¹¹Fools give full vent to their rage,^q

but the wise bring calm in the end.^r

¹²If a ruler^s listens to lies,

all his officials become wicked.^t

¹³The poor and the oppressor have this in common:

The Lord gives sight to the eyes of both.^u

¹⁴If a king judges the poor with fairness,

his throne will be established forever.^v

¹⁵A rod and a reprimand impart wisdom,

but a child left undisciplined disgraces its mother.^w

¹⁶When the wicked thrive, so does sin,

but the righteous will see their downfall.^x

¹⁷Discipline your children, and they will give you peace;

they will bring you the delights you desire.^y

¹⁸Where there is no revelation, people cast off restraint;

but blessed is the one who heeds wisdom’s instruction.^z

¹⁹Servants cannot be corrected by mere words;

though they understand, they will not respond.

²⁰Do you see someone who speaks in haste?

There is more hope for a fool than for them.^a

²¹A servant pampered from youth

will turn out to be insolent.

²²An angry person stirs up conflict,

and a hot-tempered person commits many sins.^b

²³Pride brings a person low,^c

but the lowly in spirit gain honor.^d

²⁴The accomplices of thieves are their own enemies;

they are put under oath and dare not testify.^e

²⁵Fear^f of man will prove to be a snare,

but whoever trusts in the Lord^g is kept safe.^h

²⁶Many seek an audience with a ruler,ⁱ

but it is from the Lord that one gets justice.^j

²⁷The righteous detest the dishonest;

the wicked detest the upright.^k