Proverbs 28

¹The wicked flee when no one pursues;

but the righteous are as bold as a lion.

²In rebellion, a land has many rulers,

but order is maintained by a man of understanding and knowledge.

³A needy man who oppresses the poor

is like a driving rain which leaves no crops.

⁴Those who forsake the law praise the wicked;

but those who keep the law contend with them.

⁵Evil men don’t understand justice;

but those who seek Yahweh understand it fully.

⁶Better is the poor who walks in his integrity

than he who is perverse in his ways, and he is rich.

⁷Whoever keeps the law is a wise son;

but he who is a companion of gluttons shames his father.

⁸He who increases his wealth by excessive interest

gathers it for one who has pity on the poor.

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

even his prayer is an abomination.

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

he will fall into his own trap;

but the blameless will inherit good.

¹¹The rich man is wise in his own eyes;

but the poor who has understanding sees through him.

¹²When the righteous triumph, there is great glory;

but when the wicked rise, men hide themselves.

¹³He who conceals his sins doesn’t prosper,

but whoever confesses and renounces them finds mercy.

¹⁴Blessed is the man who always fears;

but one who hardens his heart falls into trouble.

¹⁵As a roaring lion or a charging bear,

so is a wicked ruler over helpless people.

¹⁶A tyrannical ruler lacks judgment.

One who hates ill-gotten gain will have long days.

¹⁷A man who is tormented by blood guilt will be a fugitive until death.

No one will support him.

¹⁸Whoever walks blamelessly is kept safe;

but one with perverse ways will fall suddenly.

¹⁹One who works his land will have an abundance of food;

but one who chases fantasies will have his fill of poverty.

²⁰A faithful man is rich with blessings;

but one who is eager to be rich will not go unpunished.

²¹To show partiality is not good,

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

²²A stingy man hurries after riches,

and doesn’t know that poverty waits for him.

²³One who rebukes a man will afterward find more favor

than one who flatters with the tongue.

²⁴Whoever robs his father or his mother and says, “It’s not wrong,”

is a partner with a destroyer.

²⁵One who is greedy stirs up strife;

but one who trusts in Yahweh will prosper.

²⁶One who trusts in himself is a fool;

but one who walks in wisdom is kept safe.

²⁷One who gives to the poor has no lack;

but one who closes his eyes will have many curses.

²⁸When the wicked rise, men hide themselves;

but when they perish, the righteous thrive.