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Proverbs 28
New Life Version
Proverbs 28
New Life Version
28 The sinful run away when no one is trying to catch them, but those who are right with God have as much strength of heart as a lion.
2 When a nation sins, it has many rulers, but with a man of understanding and much learning, it will last a long time.
3 A poor man who makes it hard for the poor is like a heavy rain which leaves no food.
4 Those who turn away from the law praise the sinful, but those who keep the law fight against them.
5 Sinful men do not understand what is right and fair, but those who look to the Lord understand all things.
6 A poor man who walks in his honor is better than a rich man who is sinful in his ways.
7 He who keeps the law is a wise son, but a friend of men who eat too much puts his father to shame.
8 He who gets money by being paid much for the use of it, gathers it for him who will be kind to the poor.
9 He who turns his ear away from listening to the law, even his prayer is a hated thing.
10 He who leads good people into a sinful way will fall into his own deep hole, but good will come to those without blame.
11 The rich man is wise in his own eyes, but the poor man who has understanding sees through him.
12 When those who are right with God win, there is great honor, but when the sinful rule, men hide themselves.
13 It will not go well for the man who hides his sins, but he who tells his sins and turns from them will be given loving-pity.
14 Happy is the man who always fears the Lord, but he who makes his heart hard will fall into trouble.
15 A sinful ruler over poor people is like a lion making noise or a bear running to fight.
16 A ruler who takes much from the people who have little does not have understanding. But he who hates wanting something that belongs to someone else will live a long time.
17 A man who is loaded down with the guilt of human blood will run in fear until death. Let no one help him.
18 He who walks without blame will be kept safe, but he who is sinful will fall all at once.
19 He who works his land will have more than enough food, but he who wastes his time will become very poor.
20 A faithful man will have many good things, but he who hurries to be rich will be punished for it.
21 To show favor is not good, because a man will sin for a piece of bread.
22 A man with a sinful eye hurries to be rich. He does not know that he will be in need.
23 He who speaks strong words to a man will later find more favor than he who gives false respect with his tongue.
24 He who robs his father or his mother, and says, “It is not a sin,” is the friend of a man who destroys.
25 A proud man starts fights, but all will go well for the man who trusts in the Lord.
26 He who trusts in his own heart is a fool, but he who walks in wisdom will be kept safe.
27 He who gives to the poor will never want, but many bad things will happen to the man who shuts his eyes to the poor.
28 When the sinful rule, men hide themselves, but when they pass away, those who do what is right become many.
Proverbs 28
New International Version
Proverbs 28
New International Version
2 When a country is rebellious, it has many rulers,
but a ruler with discernment and knowledge maintains order.
3 A ruler[a] who oppresses the poor
is like a driving rain that leaves no crops.
4 Those who forsake instruction praise the wicked,
but those who heed it resist them.
5 Evildoers do not understand what is right,
but those who seek the Lord understand it fully.
6 Better the poor whose walk is blameless
than the rich whose ways are perverse.(D)
7 A discerning son heeds instruction,
but a companion of gluttons disgraces his father.(E)
8 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)
9 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)
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)
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
- Proverbs 28:3 Or A poor person
- Proverbs 28:18 Syriac (see Septuagint); Hebrew into one
New Life Version (NLV)
Copyright © 1969, 2003 by Barbour Publishing, Inc.
New International Version (NIV) 
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