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 forsake instruction praise the wicked,
but those who heed it resist them.

5 Evildoers do not understand what is right,
but those who seek the Lord understand it fully.

6 Better the poor whose walk is blameless
than the rich whose ways are perverse.(D)

7 A discerning son heeds instruction,
but a companion of gluttons disgraces his father.(E)

8 Whoever increases wealth by taking interest(F) or profit from the poor
amasses it for another,(G) who will be kind to the poor.(H)

9 If anyone turns a deaf ear to my instruction,
even their prayers are detestable.(I)

10 Whoever leads the upright along an evil path
will fall into their own trap,(J)
but the blameless will receive a good inheritance.

11 The rich are wise in their own eyes;
one who is poor and discerning sees how deluded they are.

12 When the righteous triumph, there is great elation;(K)
but when the wicked rise to power, people go into hiding.(L)

13 Whoever conceals their sins(M) does not prosper,
but the one who confesses(N) and renounces them finds mercy.(O)

14 Blessed is the one who always trembles before God,
but whoever hardens their heart falls into trouble.

15 Like a roaring lion or a charging bear
is a wicked ruler over a helpless people.

16 A tyrannical ruler practices extortion,
but one who hates ill-gotten gain will enjoy a long reign.

17 Anyone tormented by the guilt of murder
will seek refuge(P) in the grave;
let no one hold them back.

18 The one whose walk is blameless is kept safe,(Q)
but the one whose ways are perverse will fall(R) into the pit.[b]

19 Those who work their land will have abundant food,
but those who chase fantasies will have their fill of poverty.(S)

20 A faithful person will be richly blessed,
but one eager to get rich will not go unpunished.(T)

21 To show partiality(U) is not good(V)
yet a person will do wrong for a piece of bread.(W)

22 The stingy are eager to get rich
and are unaware that poverty awaits them.(X)

23 Whoever rebukes a person will in the end gain favor
rather than one who has a flattering tongue.(Y)

24 Whoever robs their father or mother(Z)
and says, “It’s not wrong,”
is partner to one who destroys.(AA)

25 The greedy stir up conflict,(AB)
but those who trust in the Lord(AC) will prosper.

26 Those who trust in themselves are fools,(AD)
but those who walk in wisdom are kept safe.(AE)

27 Those who give to the poor will lack nothing,(AF)
but those who close their eyes to them receive many curses.(AG)

28 When the wicked rise to power, people go into hiding;(AH)
but when the wicked perish, the righteous thrive.

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 28:3 Or A poor person
  2. Proverbs 28:18 Syriac (see Septuagint); Hebrew into one

Cross references

  1. Proverbs 28:1 : S 2Ki 7:7
  2. Proverbs 28:1 : S Lev 26:17
  3. Proverbs 28:1 : S Ps 138:3
  4. Proverbs 28:6 : Pr 19:1
  5. Proverbs 28:7 : Pr 23:19-21
  6. Proverbs 28:8 : S Ex 18:21; Eze 18:8
  7. Proverbs 28:8 : S Job 27:17
  8. Proverbs 28:8 : S Job 3:15; Ps 112:9; Lk 14:12-14
  9. Proverbs 28:9 : S Ps 109:7; S Pr 15:8; S Isa 1:13
  10. Proverbs 28:10 : S Ps 57:6; S Pr 26:27
  11. Proverbs 28:12 : S 2Ki 11:20
  12. Proverbs 28:12 : ver 28; Job 24:4; Pr 29:2
  13. Proverbs 28:13 : S 2Sa 12:13; S Job 31:33
  14. Proverbs 28:13 : S Lev 5:5
  15. Proverbs 28:13 : Ps 32:1-5; Da 4:27; 1Jn 1:9
  16. Proverbs 28:17 : 1Sa 30:17; 1Ki 20:20; Jer 41:15; 44:14
  17. Proverbs 28:18 : Jer 39:18
  18. Proverbs 28:18 : S Est 6:13; Pr 10:9
  19. Proverbs 28:19 : Pr 12:11
  20. Proverbs 28:20 : ver 22
  21. Proverbs 28:21 : S Lev 19:15
  22. Proverbs 28:21 : S Ps 94:21; S Pr 18:5
  23. Proverbs 28:21 : Eze 13:19
  24. Proverbs 28:22 : ver 20
  25. Proverbs 28:23 : S Pr 27:5-6
  26. Proverbs 28:24 : Pr 19:26
  27. Proverbs 28:24 : S Pr 18:9
  28. Proverbs 28:25 : S Pr 14:17
  29. Proverbs 28:25 : Pr 29:25
  30. Proverbs 28:26 : S Ps 4:5; Pr 3:5
  31. Proverbs 28:26 : 1Co 3:18
  32. Proverbs 28:27 : S Dt 24:19; S Pr 22:9
  33. Proverbs 28:27 : S Ps 109:17
  34. Proverbs 28:28 : S ver 12; S Job 20:19

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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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