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28 The wicked flee, but no one pursues,
    but the righteous is bold like a lion.
By the rebellion of a land, her rulers increase,
    but by a person of intelligence who knows justice, it will last.
A man who is poor and oppresses the impoverished
    is a beating rain that leaves[a] no food.
Those who forsake instruction will praise the wicked,
    but they who guard instruction will struggle against them.
Men of evil do not understand justice,
    but seekers of Yahweh understand completely.[b]
Better to be poor and walking in one’s integrity
    than to be crooked of ways when one is rich.
He who keeps instruction is a child of understanding,
    but the companion of gluttons will shame his father.
He who augments his wealth with interest and with usury
    gathers it for him who is kind to the poor.
He who turns his ear from listening to instruction,
    even his prayer is an abomination.
10 He who misleads the upright onto the way of evil,
    into his pits he will fall.
    But as for the blameless, they will inherit good.
11 A man of wealth is wise in his own eyes,
    but the intelligent poor sees through him.
12 When the righteous triumphs, great is the glory,
    but with the rising of the wicked, a person will be hidden.
13 He who conceals his transgression will not prosper,
    but he who confesses and forsakes will obtain mercy.
14 Happy is the person who fears continuously,
    but he who is stubborn of heart,[c] will fall into calamity.
15 Like a roaring lion and a charging bear
    is a wicked ruler over a poor people.
16 A ruler who lacks understanding is[d] a cruel oppressor,
    but those who hate unjust gain will have long[e] days.
17 A person who is burdened with the blood of another,[f]
    until death he will flee;
    do not take hold of him.
18 He who walks in integrity will be safe,
    but he who takes crooked paths will fall in one.
19 He who tills his ground will have plenty bread,
    but he who follows fantasies will have plenty of poverty.
20 A man of faithfulness has abundant blessings,
    but he who hurries to become rich will not go unpunished.
21 Showing partiality[g] is not good,
    and over a morsel of bread, a strong man will do wrong.
22 He who hurries for wealth is a man with an evil eye,[h]
    but he does not know that poverty will come upon him.
23 He who rebukes a person will afterward find more favor
    than he who flatters with the tongue.
24 He who robs his father and his mother and says, “There is no crime,”
    is partner to a man who corrupts.
25 The greedy person[i] will stir up strife,
    but he who trusts in Yahweh will be enriched.
26 He who trusts in his own heart[j] is a fool,
    but he who walks in wisdom will be saved.
27 For he who gives to the poor, there is no lacking,
    but for he[k] who turns his eyes, there are many curses.
28 With the rising of the wicked, humankind will be hidden,
    and with their perishing, the righteous will multiply.

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 28:3 Literally “and there is”
  2. Proverbs 28:5 Or “everything”
  3. Proverbs 28:14 Or “mind”
  4. Proverbs 28:16 Hebrew “and”
  5. Proverbs 28:16 Or “prolong”
  6. Proverbs 28:17 Literally “life”
  7. Proverbs 28:21 Literally “Recognizing faces”
  8. Proverbs 28:22 Literally “a man of evil of eye”
  9. Proverbs 28:25 Literally “wide soul”
  10. Proverbs 28:26 Or “mind,” or “sense”
  11. Proverbs 28:27 Hebrew “those”

28 The wicked flee(A) though no one pursues,(B)
    but the righteous are as bold as a lion.(C)

When a country is rebellious, it has many rulers,
    but a ruler with discernment and knowledge maintains order.

A ruler[a] who oppresses the poor
    is like a driving rain that leaves no crops.

Those who forsake instruction praise the wicked,
    but those who heed it resist them.

Evildoers do not understand what is right,
    but those who seek the Lord understand it fully.

Better the poor whose walk is blameless
    than the rich whose ways are perverse.(D)

A discerning son heeds instruction,
    but a companion of gluttons disgraces his father.(E)

Whoever increases wealth by taking interest(F) or profit from the poor
    amasses it for another,(G) who will be kind to the poor.(H)

If anyone turns a deaf ear to my instruction,
    even their prayers are detestable.(I)

10 Whoever leads the upright along an evil path
    will fall into their own trap,(J)
    but the blameless will receive a good inheritance.

11 The rich are wise in their own eyes;
    one who is poor and discerning sees how deluded they are.

12 When the righteous triumph, there is great elation;(K)
    but when the wicked rise to power, people go into hiding.(L)

13 Whoever conceals their sins(M) does not prosper,
    but the one who confesses(N) and renounces them finds mercy.(O)

14 Blessed is the one who always trembles before God,
    but whoever hardens their heart falls into trouble.

15 Like a roaring lion or a charging bear
    is a wicked ruler over a helpless people.

16 A tyrannical ruler practices extortion,
    but one who hates ill-gotten gain will enjoy a long reign.

17 Anyone tormented by the guilt of murder
    will seek refuge(P) in the grave;
    let no one hold them back.

18 The one whose walk is blameless is kept safe,(Q)
    but the one whose ways are perverse will fall(R) into the pit.[b]

19 Those who work their land will have abundant food,
    but those who chase fantasies will have their fill of poverty.(S)

20 A faithful person will be richly blessed,
    but one eager to get rich will not go unpunished.(T)

21 To show partiality(U) is not good(V)
    yet a person will do wrong for a piece of bread.(W)

22 The stingy are eager to get rich
    and are unaware that poverty awaits them.(X)

23 Whoever rebukes a person will in the end gain favor
    rather than one who has a flattering tongue.(Y)

24 Whoever robs their father or mother(Z)
    and says, “It’s not wrong,”
    is partner to one who destroys.(AA)

25 The greedy stir up conflict,(AB)
    but those who trust in the Lord(AC) will prosper.

26 Those who trust in themselves are fools,(AD)
    but those who walk in wisdom are kept safe.(AE)

27 Those who give to the poor will lack nothing,(AF)
    but those who close their eyes to them receive many curses.(AG)

28 When the wicked rise to power, people go into hiding;(AH)
    but when the wicked perish, the righteous thrive.

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 28:3 Or A poor person
  2. Proverbs 28:18 Syriac (see Septuagint); Hebrew into one