28 The wicked flee even though no one is pursuing them,
but the righteous are bold like a lion.
2 A rebellious land has many rulers,
but one man with understanding and knowledge provides stability.
3 A poor man who oppresses the poor
is a driving rain that leaves no food.
4 Those who abandon the law[a] praise the wicked,
but those who keep the law oppose them.
5 Evil men do not understand justice,
but those who seek the Lord understand everything.
6 Better a poor person who walks in his integrity
than a rich person who is hypocritical.[b]
7 The son who keeps the law has understanding,
but a companion of gluttons brings shame upon his father.
8 A person who increases his wealth by piling up interest
gathers it for someone who is generous to the needy.
9 A person who turns his ear away from the law—
even his prayer is an abomination.
10 A person who leads the upright along an evil way
will fall into his own pit,
but people of integrity will inherit good.
11 A wealthy person is wise in his own eyes,
but a needy person with understanding will expose him.
12 When the righteous triumph, there is much celebration,[c]
but when the wicked rise to power, people hide.
13 A person who conceals his sins will not prosper,
but one who confesses and abandons them will receive mercy.
14 Blessed is the person who always is afraid of sin,
but one who hardens his heart will fall into calamity.
15 A wicked ruler over a poor people
is a growling lion or a charging bear.
16 When a ruler lacks understanding, there will be much oppression,
but one who hates ill-gotten gain prolongs his days.
17 A person haunted by the guilt of bloodshed
will be a fugitive until he goes down to the pit.
No one should offer him support.
18 A person who walks with integrity will be saved,
but a person whose ways are crooked will fall all at once.
19 A person who works his land will have plenty of food,
but whoever pursues fantasies will have plenty of poverty.
20 A trustworthy person has many blessings,
but a person in a hurry to get rich will not go unpunished.
21 Showing favoritism is not good,
but a man may sin for a piece of bread.
22 A tightfisted person is in a hurry to get rich,
but he does not know that poverty is coming his way.
23 In the end a person who corrects someone will find more favor
than a person with a flattering tongue.
24 A person who robs his father and his mother
and says, “It’s not a sin,” is no better than[d] a vandal.
25 A greedy person stirs up strife,
but a person who trusts in the Lord will prosper.
26 A person who trusts in his own ideas is a fool,
but a person who walks in wisdom will be kept safe.
27 A person who gives to the poor will lack nothing,
but a person who closes his eyes to them will receive many curses.
28 When the wicked rise to power, people go into hiding,
but when the wicked perish, the righteous increase.
Footnotes
- Proverbs 28:4 Or instruction or teaching
- Proverbs 28:6 Or twisted in his two ways
- Proverbs 28:12 Or confidence. Literally splendor.
- Proverbs 28:24 Or a partner to