Proverbs 28

Evangelical Heritage Version

28 The wicked flee even though no one is pursuing them,
but the righteous are bold like a lion.
² A rebellious land has many rulers,
but one man with understanding and knowledge provides stability.
³ A poor man who oppresses the poor
    is a driving rain that leaves no food.
⁴ Those who abandon the law^[a] praise the wicked,
but those who keep the law oppose them.
⁵ Evil men do not understand justice,
but those who seek the Lord understand everything.
⁶ Better a poor person who walks in his integrity
    than a rich person who is hypocritical.^[b]
7 The son who keeps the law has understanding,
but a companion of gluttons brings shame upon his father.
⁸ A person who increases his wealth by piling up interest
    gathers it for someone who is generous to the needy.
⁹ A person who turns his ear away from the law—
    even his prayer is an abomination.
¹⁰ A person who leads the upright along an evil way
will fall into his own pit,
but people of integrity will inherit good.
¹¹ A wealthy person is wise in his own eyes,
but a needy person with understanding will expose him.
¹² When the righteous triumph, there is much celebration,^[c]
but when the wicked rise to power, people hide.
¹³ A person who conceals his sins will not prosper,
but one who confesses and abandons them will receive mercy.
¹⁴ Blessed is the person who always is afraid of sin,
but one who hardens his heart will fall into calamity.
¹⁵ A wicked ruler over a poor people
    is a growling lion or a charging bear.
¹⁶ When a ruler lacks understanding, there will be much oppression,
but one who hates ill-gotten gain prolongs his days.
¹⁷ A person haunted by the guilt of bloodshed
    will be a fugitive until he goes down to the pit.
No one should offer him support.
¹⁸ A person who walks with integrity will be saved,
but a person whose ways are crooked will fall all at once.
¹⁹ A person who works his land will have plenty of food,
but whoever pursues fantasies will have plenty of poverty.
²⁰ A trustworthy person has many blessings,
but a person in a hurry to get rich will not go unpunished.
²¹ Showing favoritism is not good,
but a man may sin for a piece of bread.
²² A tightfisted person is in a hurry to get rich,
but he does not know that poverty is coming his way.
²³ In the end a person who corrects someone will find more favor
    than a person with a flattering tongue.
²⁴ A person who robs his father and his mother
and says, “It’s not a sin,” is no better than^[d] a vandal.
²⁵ A greedy person stirs up strife,
but a person who trusts in the Lord will prosper.
²⁶ A person who trusts in his own ideas is a fool,
but a person who walks in wisdom will be kept safe.
²⁷ A person who gives to the poor will lack nothing,
but a person who closes his eyes to them will receive many curses.
²⁸ When the wicked rise to power, people go into hiding,
but when the wicked perish, the righteous increase.