Proverbs 28–29

¹The wicked have fled and there is no pursuer. And the righteous as a young lion is confident.

²By the transgression of a land many are its heads. And by an intelligent man, Who knoweth right—it is prolonged.

³A man—poor and oppressing the weak, Is a sweeping rain, and there is no bread.

⁴Those forsaking the law praise the wicked, Those keeping the law plead against them.

⁵Evil men understand not judgment, And those seeking Jehovah understand all.

⁶Better is the poor walking in his integrity, Than the perverse of ways who is rich.

⁷Whoso is keeping the law is an intelligent son, And a friend of gluttons, Doth cause his father to blush.

⁸Whoso is multiplying his wealth by biting and usury, For one favouring the poor doth gather it.

⁹Whoso is turning his ear from hearing the law, Even his prayer is an abomination.

¹⁰Whoso is causing the upright to err in an evil way, Into his own pit he doth fall, And the perfect do inherit good.

¹¹A rich man is wise in his own eyes, And the intelligent poor searcheth him.

¹²In the exulting of the righteous the glory is abundant, And in the rising of the wicked man is apprehensive.

¹³Whoso is covering his transgressions prospereth not, And he who is confessing and forsaking hath mercy.

¹⁴O the happiness of a man fearing continually, And whoso is hardening his heart falleth into evil.

¹⁵A growling lion, and a ranging bear, Is the wicked ruler over a poor people.

¹⁶A leader lacking understanding multiplieth oppressions, Whoso is hating dishonest gain prolongeth days.

¹⁷A man oppressed with the blood of a soul, Unto the pit fleeth, none taketh hold on him.

¹⁸Whoso is walking uprightly is saved, And the perverted of ways falleth at once.

¹⁹Whoso is tilling his ground is satisfied with bread, And whoso is pursuing vanity, Is filled with poverty.

²⁰A stedfast man hath multiplied blessings, And whoso is hasting to be rich is not acquitted.

²¹To discern faces is not good, And for a piece of bread doth a man transgress.

²²Troubled for wealth is the man with an evil eye, And he knoweth not that want doth meet him.

²³Whoso is reproving a man afterwards findeth grace, More than a flatterer with the tongue.

²⁴Whoso is robbing his father, or his mother, And is saying, ‘It is not transgression,’ A companion he is to a destroyer.

²⁵Whoso is proud in soul stirreth up contention, And whoso is trusting on Jehovah is made fat.

²⁶Whoso is trusting in his heart is a fool, And whoso is walking in wisdom is delivered.

²⁷Whoso is giving to the poor hath no lack, And whoso is hiding his eyes multiplied curses.

²⁸In the rising of the wicked a man is hidden, And in their destruction the righteous multiply!

Chapter 29

¹A man often reproved, hardening the neck, Is suddenly broken, and there is no healing.

²In the multiplying of the righteous the people rejoice, And in the ruling of the wicked the people sigh.

³A man loving wisdom rejoiceth his father, And a friend of harlots destroyeth wealth.

⁴A king by judgment establisheth a land, And one receiving gifts throweth it down.

⁵A man taking a portion above his neighbour, Spreadeth a net for his own steps.

⁶In the transgression of the evil is a snare, And the righteous doth sing and rejoice.

⁷The righteous knoweth the plea of the poor, The wicked understandeth not knowledge.

⁸Men of scorning ensnare a city, And the wise turn back anger.

⁹A wise man is judged by the foolish man, And he hath been angry, And he hath laughed, and there is no rest.

¹⁰Men of blood hate the perfect, And the upright seek his soul.

¹¹A fool bringeth out all his mind, And the wise till afterwards restraineth it.

¹²A ruler who is attending to lying words, All his ministers are wicked.

¹³The poor and the man of frauds have met together, Jehovah is enlightening the eyes of them both.

¹⁴A king that is judging truly the poor, His throne for ever is established.

¹⁵A rod and reproof give wisdom, And a youth let away is shaming his mother.

¹⁶In the multiplying of the wicked transgression multiplieth, And the righteous on their fall do look.

¹⁷Chastise thy son, and he giveth thee comfort, Yea, he giveth delights to thy soul.

¹⁸Without a Vision is a people made naked, And whoso is keeping the law, O his happiness!

¹⁹By words a servant is not instructed though he understand, And there is nothing answering.

²⁰Thou hast seen a man hasty in his words! More hope of a fool than of him.

²¹Whoso is bringing up his servant delicately, from youth, At his latter end also he is continuator.

²²An angry man stirreth up contention, And a furious man is multiplying transgression.

²³The pride of man humbleth him, And humility of spirit upholdeth honour.

²⁴Whoso is sharing with a thief is hating his own soul, Execration he heareth, and telleth not.

²⁵Fear of man causeth a snare, And the confident in Jehovah is set on high.

²⁶Many are seeking the face of a ruler, And from Jehovah is the judgment of each.

²⁷An abomination to the righteous is the perverse man, And an abomination to the wicked is the upright in the way!

Chapter 30