Proverbs 28

¹The wicked flee when no one is pursuing them,[#Lv 26:17; Ps 53:5]

but the righteous are as bold as a lion.

²When a land is in rebellion, it has many rulers,[#1Kg 16:8-28; 2Kg 15:8-15]

but with a discerning and knowledgeable person, it endures.

³A destitute leader who oppresses the poor[#LXX reads A wicked man]

is like a driving rain that leaves no food.

⁴Those who reject the law praise the wicked,[#Rm 1:32]

but those who keep the law battle against them.

⁵Evil men do not understand justice,[#Ps 92:6]

but those who seek the Lord understand everything.

⁶Better a poor man who lives with integrity[#Pr 19:1; 20:7]

than a rich man who distorts right and wrong.

⁷A discerning son keeps the law,

but a companion of gluttons humiliates his father.

⁸Whoever increases his wealth through excessive interest[#Ex 22:25; Lv 25:36]

collects it for one who is kind to the poor.

⁹Anyone who turns his ear away from hearing the law —

even his prayer is detestable.

¹⁰The one who leads the upright into an evil way

will fall into his own pit,

but the blameless will inherit what is good.

¹¹A rich man is wise in his own eyes,

but a poor man who has discernment sees through him.

¹²When the righteous triumph,

there is great rejoicing,

but when the wicked come to power,

people hide themselves.

¹³The one who conceals his sins

will not prosper,

but whoever confesses and renounces them

will find mercy.

¹⁴Happy is the one who is always reverent,[#2Ch 19:7; Pr 23:17]

but one who hardens his heart falls into trouble.

¹⁵A wicked ruler over a helpless people[#Ex 1:14; Pr 29:2; Mt 2:16]

is like a roaring lion or a charging bear.

¹⁶A leader who lacks understanding

is very oppressive,

but one who hates dishonest profit

prolongs his life.

¹⁷A man burdened by bloodguilt[#Lit the blood of a person]

will be a fugitive until death.

Let no one help him.

¹⁸The one who lives with integrity will be helped,

but one who distorts right and wrong

will suddenly fall.

¹⁹The one who works his land

will have plenty of food,

but whoever chases fantasies

will have his fill of poverty.

²⁰A faithful man will have many blessings,[#Pr 10:6; Mt 25:21]

but one in a hurry to get rich

will not go unpunished.

²¹It is not good to show partiality —[#Pr 18:5; 24:23]

yet a man may sin for a piece of bread.

²²A greedy man is in a hurry for wealth;[#Lit A man with an evil eye]

he doesn’t know that poverty will come to him.

²³One who rebukes a person will later find more favor[#Pr 27:5-6]

than one who flatters with his tongue.

²⁴The one who robs his father or mother[#Pr 19:6]

and says, “That’s no sin,”

is a companion to a man who destroys.

²⁵A greedy person provokes conflict,[#Pr 15:18]

but whoever trusts in the Lord will prosper.

²⁶The one who trusts in himself is a fool,[#Lit his heart]

but one who walks in wisdom will be safe.

²⁷The one who gives to the poor

will not be in need,

but one who turns his eyes away

will receive many curses.

²⁸When the wicked come to power,

people hide,

but when they are destroyed,

the righteous flourish.