Proverbs 28  Lexham English Bible

28 The wicked flee, but no one pursues,
    but the righteous is bold like a lion.
² By the rebellion of a land, her rulers increase,
    but by a person of intelligence who knows justice, it will last.
³ A man who is poor and oppresses the impoverished
    is a beating rain that leaves^[a] no food.
⁴ Those who forsake instruction will praise the wicked,
    but they who guard instruction will struggle against them.
⁵ Men of evil do not understand justice,
    but seekers of Yahweh understand completely.^[b]
6 Better to be poor and walking in one’s integrity
    than to be crooked of ways when one is rich.
⁷ He who keeps instruction is a child of understanding,
    but the companion of gluttons will shame his father.
⁸ He who augments his wealth with interest and with usury
    gathers it for him who is kind to the poor.
⁹ 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.