Proverbs 28 - Christian Standard Bible (CSB)

28 The wicked flee when no one is pursuing them,(A)
but the righteous are as bold as a lion.(B)

2 When a land is in rebellion, it has many rulers,(C)
but with a discerning and knowledgeable person, it endures.

3 A destitute leader[a] who oppresses the poor
is like a driving rain that leaves no food.(D)

4 Those who reject the law praise the wicked,(E)
but those who keep the law pit themselves against them.(F)

5 The evil do not understand justice,(G)
but those who seek the Lord understand everything.(H)

6 Better the poor person who lives with integrity(I)
than the rich one who distorts right and wrong.[b](J)

7 A discerning son keeps the law,
but a companion of gluttons humiliates his father.(K)

8 Whoever increases his wealth through excessive interest(L)
collects it for one who is kind to the poor.(M)

9 Anyone who turns his ear away from hearing the law—
even his prayer is detestable.(N)

10 The one who leads the upright into an evil way
will fall into his own pit,(O)
but the blameless will inherit what is good.(P)

11 A rich person is wise in his own eyes,
but a poor one who has discernment sees through him.

12 When the righteous triumph,
there is great rejoicing,[c]
but when the wicked come to power,
people hide.(Q)

13 The one who conceals his sins
will not prosper,(R)
but whoever confesses and renounces them
will find mercy.(S)

14 Happy is the one who is always reverent,(T)
but one who hardens his heart falls into trouble.(U)

15 A wicked ruler over a helpless people(V)
is like a roaring lion or a charging bear.(W)

16 A leader who lacks understanding
is very oppressive,
but one who hates dishonest profit
prolongs his life.(X)

17 Someone burdened by bloodguilt[d]
will be a fugitive until death.(Y)
Let no one help him.(Z)

18 The one who lives with integrity will be helped,
but one who distorts right and wrong[e]
will suddenly fall.(AA)

19 The one who works his land
will have plenty of food,(AB)
but whoever chases fantasies
will have his fill of poverty.(AC)

20 A faithful person will have many blessings,(AD)
but one in a hurry to get rich(AE)
will not go unpunished.

21 It is not good to show partiality(AF)—
yet even a courageous person may sin for a piece of bread.(AG)

22 A greedy one[f] is in a hurry for wealth;
he doesn’t know that poverty will come to him.(AH)

23 One who rebukes a person will later find more favor(AI)
than one who flatters with his tongue.(AJ)

24 The one who robs his father or mother(AK)
and says, “That’s no sin,”(AL)
is a companion to a person who destroys.(AM)

25 A greedy person stirs up conflict,(AN)
but whoever trusts in the Lord will prosper.(AO)

26 The one who trusts in himself[g] is a fool,
but one who walks in wisdom will be safe.(AP)

27 The one who gives to the poor
will not be in need,
but one who turns his eyes away[h]
will receive many curses.(AQ)

28 When the wicked come to power,
people hide,
but when they are destroyed,
the righteous flourish.(AR)

Footnotes

  1. 28:3 LXX reads A wicked man
  2. 28:6 Lit who twists two ways
  3. 28:12 Lit glory
  4. 28:17 Lit the blood of a person
  5. 28:18 Lit who is twisted regarding two ways
  6. 28:22 Lit A man with an evil eye
  7. 28:26 Lit his heart
  8. 28:27 Lit who shuts his eyes

Cross references

  1. 28:1 : Lv 26:17; Ps 53:5
  2. 28:1 : Eph 6:19–20
  3. 28:2 : 1Kg 16:8–28; 2Kg 15:8–15
  4. 28:3 : Ex 9:25
  5. 28:4 : Rm 1:32
  6. 28:4 : 1Kg 18:18; Neh 13:11,15; Mt 3:7; 14:4; Eph 5:11
  7. 28:5 : Ps 92:6
  8. 28:5 : Ps 119:100; Jn 7:17; 1Co 2:15; Jms 1:5; 1Jn 2:20,27
  9. 28:6 : Pr 19:1; 20:7
  10. 28:6 : Pr 16:8,19; 19:22; Is 5:20
  11. 28:7 : Dt 21:20; Pr 17:25; 23:20; 29:3
  12. 28:8 : Ex 22:25; Lv 25:36
  13. 28:8 : Jb 27:17; Pr 13:22; Ec 2:26; Ezk 18:13,17
  14. 28:9 : Ps 109:7; Pr 15:8,29; 21:27
  15. 28:10 : Ps 7:15; Pr 16:29; 26:27; Mt 18:6
  16. 28:10 : Mt 5:6
  17. 28:12 : Pr 11:10; 28:28; 29:2; Ec 10:5–6
  18. 28:13 : Jb 31:33; Ps 32:3
  19. 28:13 : Ps 32:5; Jms 5:16; 1Jn 1:9
  20. 28:14 : 2Ch 19:7; Pr 23:17
  21. 28:14 : Ps 95:8
  22. 28:15 : Ex 1:14; Pr 29:2; Mt 2:16
  23. 28:15 : Pr 19:12; 1Pt 5:8
  24. 28:16 : 1Kg 12:1–19; Ps 15:5; Pr 15:27
  25. 28:17 : Gn 4:14; 9:6; Ex 21:14
  26. 28:17 : Nm 35:31
  27. 28:18 : Pr 2:7; 10:9; 20:7
  28. 28:19 : Pr 24:27
  29. 28:19 : Pr 1:31; 12:11,14; 14:14
  30. 28:20 : Pr 10:6; Mt 25:21
  31. 28:20 : Pr 20:21; 28:22; 1Tm 6:9
  32. 28:21 : Pr 18:5; 24:23
  33. 28:21 : Ezk 13:19
  34. 28:22 : Pr 13:11; 20:21; 21:5; 22:16
  35. 28:23 : Pr 27:5–6
  36. 28:23 : Pr 26:28; 29:5
  37. 28:24 : Pr 19:26
  38. 28:24 : Pr 30:20; Mk 7:11
  39. 28:24 : Pr 18:9
  40. 28:25 : Pr 15:18
  41. 28:25 : Ps 37:3–5; Pr 3:5–6; Jr 17:7–8
  42. 28:26 : Pr 3:5–7
  43. 28:27 : Pr 11:24; 19:17; 22:16
  44. 28:28 : Pr 28:12; 29:2

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Proverbs 28 - Young's Literal Translation (YLT)

28 The wicked have fled and there is no pursuer. And the righteous as a young lion is confident. 2 By the transgression of a land many [are] its heads. And by an intelligent man, Who knoweth right -- it is prolonged. 3 A man -- poor and oppressing the weak, [Is] a sweeping rain, and there is no brea...
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Proverbs 28 - Wycliffe Bible (WYC)

28 A wicked man fleeth, when no man pursueth; but a just man as a lion trusting shall be without fearedfulness. (A wicked person fleeth, when no one pursueth him; but a righteous person shall be without fear, like a trusting lion.) 2 For the sins of the land there be many princes of it; and for the ...
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Proverbs 28 - World English Bible (WEB)

28 The wicked flee when no one pursues; but the righteous are as bold as a lion.2 In rebellion, a land has many rulers, but order is maintained by a man of understanding and knowledge.3 A needy man who oppresses the poor is like a driving rain which leaves no crops.4 Those who forsake the law praise...
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Proverbs 28 - The Voice (VOICE)

28 The wicked run away even when no one is chasing them; the right-living, however, stand their ground as boldly as lions.2 Where there is rebellion in a land, there are many petty and contending rulers;But where there is a wise and intelligent leader, peace and order endure. 3 A poor person who opp...
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Proverbs 28 - Tree of Life Version (TLV)

Confidence, Discernment, Integrity28 The wicked flee when no one is pursuing,but the righteous are as bold as a lion.2 When a country is in rebellion, it has many rulers,but a man of discernment and knowledge maintains order. 3 A poor man who oppresses the weakis like pounding rain without food.4 Th...
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Proverbs 28 - Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (RSVCE)

28 The wicked flee when no one pursues, but the righteous are bold as a lion.2 When a land transgresses it has many rulers;but with men of understanding and knowledge its stability will long continue.3 A poor man who oppresses the poor is a beating rain that leaves no food.4 Those who forsake the la...
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Proverbs 28 - Revised Standard Version (RSV)

28 The wicked flee when no one pursues, but the righteous are bold as a lion.2 When a land transgresses it has many rulers;but with men of understanding and knowledge its stability will long continue.3 A poor man who oppresses the poor is a beating rain that leaves no food.4 Those who forsake the la...
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Proverbs 28 - New Revised Standard Version, Anglicised (NRSVA)

28 The wicked flee when no one pursues, but the righteous are as bold as a lion.2 When a land rebels it has many rulers;but with an intelligent ruler there is lasting order.[a]3 A ruler[b] who oppresses the poor is a beating rain that leaves no food.4 Those who forsake the law praise the wicked, but...
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Proverbs 28 - New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

28 The wicked flee when no one pursues, but the righteous are as bold as a lion.(A)2 When a land rebels it has many rulers;but with an intelligent[a] person, honesty endures.(B)3 A poor person who oppresses the poor is a beating rain that leaves no food.(C)4 Those who forsake the law praise the wick...
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Proverbs 28 - New Living Translation (NLT)

28 The wicked run away when no one is chasing them, but the godly are as bold as lions. 2 When there is moral rot within a nation, its government topples easily. But wise and knowledgeable leaders bring stability. 3 A poor person who oppresses the poor is like a pounding rain that destroys the crops...
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Proverbs 28 - New Life Version (NLV)

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...
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Proverbs 28 - New King James Version (NKJV)

The Righteous Are Bold as a Lion28 The (A)wicked flee when no one pursues,But the righteous are bold as a lion. 2 Because of the transgression of a land, many are its princes;But by a man of understanding and knowledgeRight will be prolonged. 3 (B)A poor man who oppresses the poorIs like a driving r...
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Proverbs 28 - New International Version - UK (NIVUK)

28 The wicked flee though no one pursues, but the righteous are as bold as a lion. 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 driving rain that leaves no crops. 4 Those who forsake instru...
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Proverbs 28 - New International Version (NIV)

28 The wicked flee(A) though no one pursues,(B) but the righteous are as bold as a lion.(C) 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 for...
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Proverbs 28 - New International Reader's Version (NIRV)

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Proverbs 28 - New English Translation (NET)

28 The wicked person fled,[a] though no one was pursuing,[b]but the righteous person can be as confident[c] as a lion.2 When a country is rebellious[d] it has many princes,[e]but by someone who is discerning and knowledgeable[f] order is maintained.[g]3 A poor person[h] who oppresses the weakis like...
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