Proverbs 28  Common English Bible

28 The wicked run away even though no one pursues them,
    but the righteous are as confident as a lion.
² When a land rebels, there are many leaders;
    but a person with understanding brings order.
³ Poor people who oppress the needy
    are rain that washes away food.
⁴ Those who abandon Instruction praise the wicked,
    but those who follow Instruction battle them.
⁵ Evil people don’t understand justice,
    but those who seek the Lord understand everything.
⁶ Better to be poor and walk in innocence
    than to be on crooked paths and wealthy.
⁷ Intelligent children follow Instruction,
    but those who befriend gluttons shame their parents.
⁸ Those who become rich through high interest rates
    gather money for those who are generous to the poor.
⁹ Those who turn their ears from hearing Instruction—
    even their prayers will be detested.
¹⁰ Whoever misleads those who do right onto an evil path
    will fall into their own pit,
    but the blameless will inherit good things.
¹¹ Rich people think they are wise,
    but an insightful poor person sees through them.
¹² When the righteous rejoice, there is great respect,
    but people hide when the wicked prosper.
¹³ Those who hide their sins won’t succeed,
    but those who confess and give them up will receive mercy.
¹⁴ Happy are those who are continually fearful,
    but those whose hearts are hard fall into trouble.
¹⁵ A wicked ruler over the poor
    is like a growling lion or a prowling bear.
¹⁶ A prince without understanding is a cruel oppressor,
    but one who hates unjust gain will live long.
¹⁷ If someone feels guilty about murder,
    don’t hold them back from fleeing to the pit.
¹⁸ Those who walk in innocence will be saved,
    but those who go on twisted paths will fall into the grave.
¹⁹ Those who work the land will have plenty to eat,
    but those with worthless pursuits will have plenty of poverty.
²⁰ Reliable people will have abundant blessings,
    but those with get-rich-quick schemes won’t go unpunished.
²¹ Those who show favoritism aren’t good;
    people do wrong for a crust of bread.
²² The stingy try to get rich fast,
    unaware that loss will come to them.
²³ Those who correct someone will, in the end, find more favor
    than those with flattering tongues.
²⁴ Those who steal from their father and mother,
    and say, “It’s not a crime,”
    are friends of vandals.
²⁵ Greedy people stir up conflict,
    but those who trust the Lord become prosperous.
²⁶ Those who trust in their own reasoning are fools,
    but those who walk in wisdom will be kept safe.
²⁷ Those who give to the poor will lack nothing,
    but those who turn a blind eye will be greatly cursed.
²⁸ When the wicked rise up, people hide,
    but when they are destroyed, the righteous multiply.