Proverbs 28

Chapter 28

¹The wicked flee when no one pursues,

but the righteous are bold as a lion.

²When a land transgresses

it has many rulers;

but with men of understanding and knowledge

its stability will long continue.

³A poor man who oppresses the poor

is a beating rain that leaves no food.

⁴Those who forsake the law praise the wicked,

but those who keep the law strive against them.

⁵Evil men do not understand justice,

but those who seek the Lord understand it completely.

⁶Better is a poor man who walks in his integrity

than a rich man who is perverse in his ways.

⁷He who keeps the law is a wise son,

but a companion of gluttons shames his father.

⁸He who augments his wealth by interest and increase

gathers it for him who is kind to the poor.

⁹If one turns away his ear from hearing the law,

even his prayer is an abomination.

¹⁰He who misleads the upright into an evil way

will fall into his own pit;

but the blameless will have a goodly inheritance.

¹¹A rich man is wise in his own eyes,

but a poor man who has understanding will find him out.

¹²When the righteous triumph, there is great glory;

but when the wicked rise, men hide themselves.

¹³He who conceals his transgressions will not prosper,

but he who confesses and forsakes them will obtain mercy.

¹⁴Blessed is the man who fears the Lord always;

but he who hardens his heart will fall into calamity.

¹⁵Like a roaring lion or a charging bear

is a wicked ruler over a poor people.

¹⁶A ruler who lacks understanding is a cruel oppressor;

but he who hates unjust gain will prolong his days.

¹⁷If a man is burdened with the blood of another,

let him be a fugitive until death;

let no one help him.

¹⁸He who walks in integrity will be delivered,

but he who is perverse in his ways will fall into a pit.^b

¹⁹He who tills his land will have plenty of bread,

but he who follows worthless pursuits will have plenty of poverty.

²⁰A faithful man will abound with blessings,

but he who hastens to be rich will not go unpunished.

²¹To show partiality is not good;

but for a piece of bread a man will do wrong.

²²A miserly man hastens after wealth,

and does not know that want will come upon him.

²³He who rebukes a man will afterward find more favor

than he who flatters with his tongue.

²⁴He who robs his father or his mother

and says, “That is no transgression,”

is the companion of a man who destroys.

²⁵A greedy man stirs up strife,

but he who trusts in the Lord will be enriched.

²⁶He who trusts in his own mind is a fool;

but he who walks in wisdom will be delivered.

²⁷He who gives to the poor will not want,

but he who hides his eyes will get many a curse.

²⁸When the wicked rise, men hide themselves,

but when they perish, the righteous increase.