Proverbs 28 - English Standard Version (ESV)

28 (A)The wicked flee when no one pursues,
but (B)the righteous are bold as a lion.
2 When a land transgresses, (C)it has many rulers,
but with a man of understanding and knowledge,
its stability will long continue.
3 (D)A poor man who oppresses the poor
is a beating rain that leaves no food.
4 Those who forsake the law (E)praise the wicked,
but those who keep the law (F)strive against them.
5 Evil men (G)do not understand justice,
but those who seek the Lord (H)understand it completely.
6 (I)Better is a poor man who (J)walks in his integrity
than a rich man who is (K)crooked in his ways.
7 The one who keeps the law is a son with understanding,
but (L)a companion of gluttons shames his father.
8 Whoever multiplies his wealth (M)by interest and profit[a]
(N)gathers it for him who is (O)generous to the poor.
9 If one turns away his ear from hearing the law,
even his (P)prayer is an abomination.
10 Whoever misleads the upright into an evil way
(Q)will fall into his own pit,
but the blameless (R)will have a goodly inheritance.
11 A rich man is wise in his (S)own eyes,
but a poor man who has understanding (T)will find him out.
12 When (U)the righteous triumph, there is great glory,
but when (V)the wicked rise, people hide themselves.
13 Whoever (W)conceals his transgressions will not prosper,
but he who (X)confesses and forsakes them will obtain mercy.
14 Blessed is the one who (Y)fears the Lord[b] always,
but whoever (Z)hardens his heart will fall into calamity.
15 Like (AA)a roaring lion or (AB)a charging bear
is (AC)a wicked ruler over a poor people.
16 A ruler who (AD)lacks understanding is a cruel oppressor,
but he who hates unjust gain will prolong his days.
17 If one is burdened with (AE)the blood of another,
he will be a fugitive until death;[c]
let no one help him.
18 (AF)Whoever (AG)walks in integrity will be delivered,
but he who is crooked in his ways will suddenly fall.
19 (AH)Whoever works his land will have plenty of bread,
but he who follows worthless pursuits will have plenty of poverty.
20 A faithful man will abound with blessings,
but whoever hastens to be rich (AI)will not go unpunished.
21 To show (AJ)partiality is not good,
but for (AK)a piece of bread a man will do wrong.
22 A (AL)stingy man[d] (AM)hastens after wealth
and does not know that (AN)poverty will come upon him.
23 Whoever (AO)rebukes a man will afterward find more favor
than (AP)he who flatters with his tongue.
24 Whoever robs his father or his mother
and says, “That is no transgression,”
is (AQ)a companion to a man who destroys.
25 A greedy man (AR)stirs up strife,
but the one who trusts in the Lord will (AS)be enriched.
26 Whoever (AT)trusts in his own mind is a fool,
but he who walks in wisdom will be delivered.
27 Whoever (AU)gives to the poor will not want,
but he who (AV)hides his eyes will get many a curse.
28 When (AW)the wicked rise, (AX)people hide themselves,
but when they perish, the righteous increase.

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 28:8 That is, profit that comes from charging interest to the poor
  2. Proverbs 28:14 Hebrew lacks the Lord
  3. Proverbs 28:17 Hebrew until the pit
  4. Proverbs 28:22 Hebrew A man whose eye is evil

Cross references

  1. Proverbs 28:1 : Lev. 26:17; Ps. 53:5
  2. Proverbs 28:1 : Lev. 26:8; 1 Sam. 17:32
  3. Proverbs 28:2 : [1 Kgs. 15:27]; See 1 Kgs. 16:8-28; 2 Kgs. 15:8-15
  4. Proverbs 28:3 : [Matt. 18:28]
  5. Proverbs 28:4 : Ps. 10:3; Rom. 1:32
  6. Proverbs 28:4 : [1 Kgs. 18:18, 21; Neh. 13:11, 15; Matt. 3:7; 14:4; Eph. 5:11]
  7. Proverbs 28:5 : Ps. 92:6; [John 12:39, 40]
  8. Proverbs 28:5 : Ps. 119:100; [John 7:17; 1 Cor. 2:15; James 1:5; 1 John 2:20, 27]
  9. Proverbs 28:6 : ch. 19:1
  10. Proverbs 28:6 : ver. 18
  11. Proverbs 28:6 : ver. 18
  12. Proverbs 28:7 : [ch. 23:20; 29:3]
  13. Proverbs 28:8 : Ex. 22:25; Lev. 25:36
  14. Proverbs 28:8 : See Job 27:17
  15. Proverbs 28:8 : ch. 14:31
  16. Proverbs 28:9 : [Ps. 109:7]; See ch. 15:8
  17. Proverbs 28:10 : See Ps. 7:15
  18. Proverbs 28:10 : [Matt. 6:33]
  19. Proverbs 28:11 : ch. 26:5, 16
  20. Proverbs 28:11 : Job 13:9
  21. Proverbs 28:12 : ch. 11:10
  22. Proverbs 28:12 : ver. 28; [ch. 29:2; Eccles. 10:5, 6]
  23. Proverbs 28:13 : [Job 31:33; Ps. 32:3]; See 1 John 1:8-10
  24. Proverbs 28:13 : Ps. 32:5; 1 John 1:9
  25. Proverbs 28:14 : ch. 23:17; Isa. 66:2; Phil. 2:12
  26. Proverbs 28:14 : See Ps. 95:8
  27. Proverbs 28:15 : ch. 19:12; 1 Pet. 5:8
  28. Proverbs 28:15 : [2 Kgs. 2:24]
  29. Proverbs 28:15 : [Ex. 1:14, 16, 22; Matt. 2:16]
  30. Proverbs 28:16 : See ch. 6:32
  31. Proverbs 28:17 : [Gen. 9:6]
  32. Proverbs 28:18 : [ch. 3:23; 10:9]
  33. Proverbs 28:18 : ver. 6
  34. Proverbs 28:19 : ch. 12:11
  35. Proverbs 28:20 : ch. 16:5
  36. Proverbs 28:21 : See ch. 18:5
  37. Proverbs 28:21 : Ezek. 13:19
  38. Proverbs 28:22 : See ch. 23:6
  39. Proverbs 28:22 : [ver. 20]
  40. Proverbs 28:22 : ch. 22:16
  41. Proverbs 28:23 : ch. 27:5, 6
  42. Proverbs 28:23 : ch. 29:5
  43. Proverbs 28:24 : [ch. 18:9]
  44. Proverbs 28:25 : See ch. 15:18
  45. Proverbs 28:25 : ch. 11:25; 13:4
  46. Proverbs 28:26 : [1 Cor. 3:18]
  47. Proverbs 28:27 : [ch. 11:24]; See ch. 19:17
  48. Proverbs 28:27 : [ch. 29:7]
  49. Proverbs 28:28 : See ver. 12
  50. Proverbs 28:28 : Job 24:4

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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)

28 Sinners run away even when no one is chasing them. But those who do what is right are as bold as lions. 2 A country has many rulers when its people don’t obey. But an understanding ruler knows how to keep order. 3 A ruler who treats poor people badly is like a pounding rain that leaves no crops. ...
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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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