Proverbs 28–29

28The ^awicked flee when no one pursues,

But the righteous are bold as a lion.

²Because of the transgression of a land, many are its princes;

But by a man of understanding and knowledge

Right will be prolonged.

^3bA poor man who oppresses the poor

Is like a driving rain ¹which leaves no food.

^4cThose who forsake the law praise the wicked,

^dBut such as keep the law contend with them.

^5eEvil men do not understand justice,

But ^fthose who seek the Lord understand all.

⁶Better is the poor who walks in his integrity

Than one perverse in his ways, though he be rich.

⁷Whoever keeps the law is a discerning son,

But a companion of gluttons shames his father.

⁸One who increases his possessions by usury and extortion

Gathers it for him who will pity the poor.

⁹One who turns away his ear from hearing the law,

^gEven his prayer is an abomination.

^10hWhoever causes the upright to go astray in an evil way,

He himself will fall into his own pit;

ⁱBut the blameless will inherit good.

¹¹The rich man is wise in his own eyes,

But the poor who has understanding searches him out.

¹²When the righteous rejoice, there is great ^jglory;

But when the wicked arise, men ²hide themselves.

^13kHe who covers his sins will not prosper,

But whoever confesses and forsakes them will have mercy.

¹⁴Happy is the man who is always reverent,

But he who hardens his heart will fall into calamity.

^15lLike a roaring lion and a charging bear

^mIs a wicked ruler over poor people.

¹⁶A ruler who lacks understanding is a great ⁿoppressor,

But he who hates covetousness will prolong his days.

^17oA man burdened with bloodshed will flee into a pit;

Let no one help him.

¹⁸Whoever walks blamelessly will be ³saved,

But he who is perverse in his ways will suddenly fall.

^19pHe who tills his land will have plenty of bread,

But he who follows frivolity will have poverty enough!

²⁰A faithful man will abound with blessings,

^qBut he who hastens to be rich will not go unpunished.

^21rTo ⁴show partiality is not good,

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

²²A man with an evil eye hastens after riches,

And does not consider that ^tpoverty will come upon him.

^23uHe who rebukes a man will find more favor afterward

Than he who flatters with the tongue.

²⁴Whoever robs his father or his mother,

And says, “It is no transgression,”

The same ^vis companion to a destroyer.

^25wHe who is of a proud heart stirs up strife,

^xBut he who trusts in the Lord will be prospered.

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

But whoever walks wisely will be delivered.

^27zHe who gives to the poor will not lack,

But he who hides his eyes will have many curses.

²⁸When the wicked arise, ^amen hide themselves;

But when they perish, the righteous increase.

29He ^awho is often rebuked, and hardens his neck,

Will suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy.

²When the righteous ¹are in authority, the ^bpeople rejoice;

But when a wicked man rules, ^cthe people groan.

³Whoever loves wisdom makes his father rejoice,

But a companion of harlots wastes his wealth.

⁴The king establishes the land by justice,

But he who receives bribes overthrows it.

⁵A man who ^dflatters his neighbor

Spreads a net for his feet.

⁶By transgression an evil man is snared,

But the righteous sings and rejoices.

⁷The righteous ^econsiders the cause of the poor,

But the wicked does not understand such knowledge.

⁸Scoffers ^fset a city aflame,

But wise men turn away wrath.

⁹If a wise man contends with a foolish man,

^gWhether the fool rages or laughs, there is no peace.

^10hThe bloodthirsty hate the blameless,

But the upright seek his ²well-being.

¹¹A fool vents all his ⁱfeelings, ³

But a wise man holds them back.

¹²If a ruler pays attention to lies,

All his servants become wicked.

¹³The poor man and the oppressor have this in common:

^jThe Lord gives light to the eyes of both.

¹⁴The king who judges the ^kpoor with truth,

His throne will be established forever.

¹⁵The rod and rebuke give ^lwisdom,

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

¹⁶When the wicked are multiplied, transgression increases;

But the righteous will see their ^mfall.

¹⁷Correct your son, and he will give you rest;

Yes, he will give delight to your soul.

¹⁸ⁿWhere there is no ⁴revelation, the people cast off restraint;

But ^ohappy is he who keeps the law.

¹⁹A servant will not be corrected by mere words;

For though he understands, he will not respond.

²⁰Do you see a man hasty in his words?

^pThere is more hope for a fool than for him.

²¹He who pampers his servant from childhood

Will have him as a son in the end.

^22qAn angry man stirs up strife,

And a furious man abounds in transgression.

^23rA man’s pride will bring him low,

But the humble in spirit will retain honor.

²⁴Whoever is a partner with a thief hates his own life;

^sHe ⁵swears to tell the truth, but reveals nothing.

^25tThe fear of man brings a snare,

But whoever trusts in the Lord shall be ⁶safe.

^26uMany seek the ruler’s ⁷favor,

But justice for man comes from the Lord.

²⁷An unjust man is an abomination to the righteous,

And he who is upright in the way is an abomination to the wicked.