Proverbs 28

¹The wicked flee when no one pursues,

but the righteous are as bold as a lion.

²When a land rebels

it has many rulers;

but with an intelligent ruler

there is lasting order.

³A ruler 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 struggle against them.

⁵The evil do not understand justice,

but those who seek the Lord understand it completely.

⁶Better to be poor and walk in integrity

than to be crooked in one’s ways even though rich.

⁷Those who keep the law are wise children,

but companions of gluttons shame their parents.

⁸One who augments wealth by exorbitant interest

gathers it for another who is kind to the poor.

⁹When one will not listen to the law,

even one’s prayers are an abomination.

¹⁰Those who mislead the upright into evil ways

will fall into pits of their own making,

but the blameless will have a goodly inheritance.

¹¹The rich is wise in self-esteem,

but an intelligent poor person sees through the pose.

¹²When the righteous triumph, there is great glory,

but when the wicked prevail, people go into hiding.

¹³No one who conceals transgressions will prosper,

but one who confesses and forsakes them will obtain mercy.

¹⁴Happy is the one who is never without fear,

but one who is hard-hearted 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 one who hates unjust gain will enjoy a long life.

¹⁷If someone is burdened with the blood of another,

let that killer be a fugitive until death;

let no one offer assistance.

¹⁸One who walks in integrity will be safe,

but whoever follows crooked ways will fall into the Pit.

¹⁹Anyone who tills the land will have plenty of bread,

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

²⁰The faithful will abound with blessings,

but one who is in a hurry to be rich will not go unpunished.

²¹To show partiality is not good—

yet for a piece of bread a person may do wrong.

²²The miser is in a hurry to get rich

and does not know that loss is sure to come.

²³Whoever rebukes a person will afterward find more favor

than one who flatters with the tongue.

²⁴Anyone who robs father or mother

and says, “That is no crime,”

is partner to a thug.

²⁵The greedy person stirs up strife,

but whoever trusts in the Lord will be enriched.

²⁶Those who trust in their own wits are fools;

but those who walk in wisdom come through safely.

²⁷Whoever gives to the poor will lack nothing,

but one who turns a blind eye will get many a curse.

²⁸When the wicked prevail, people go into hiding;

but when they perish, the righteous increase.