Proverbs 28 - New King James Version (NKJV)

The Righteous Are Bold as a Lion

28 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 knowledge
Right will be prolonged.

3 (B)A poor man who oppresses the poor
Is like a driving rain [a]which leaves no food.

4 (C)Those who forsake the law praise the wicked,
(D)But such as keep the law contend with them.

5 (E)Evil men do not understand justice,
But (F)those who seek the Lord understand all.

6 Better is the poor who walks in his integrity
Than one perverse in his ways, though he be rich.

7 Whoever keeps the law is a discerning son,
But a companion of gluttons shames his father.

8 One who increases his possessions by usury and extortion
Gathers it for him who will pity the poor.

9 One who turns away his ear from hearing the law,
(G)Even his prayer is an abomination.

10 (H)Whoever causes the upright to go astray in an evil way,
He himself will fall into his own pit;
(I)But the blameless will inherit good.

11 The rich man is wise in his own eyes,
But the poor who has understanding searches him out.

12 When the righteous rejoice, there is great (J)glory;
But when the wicked arise, men [b]hide themselves.

13 (K)He who covers his sins will not prosper,
But whoever confesses and forsakes them will have mercy.

14 Happy is the man who is always reverent,
But he who hardens his heart will fall into calamity.

15 (L)Like a roaring lion and a charging bear
(M)Is a wicked ruler over poor people.

16 A ruler who lacks understanding is a great (N)oppressor,
But he who hates covetousness will prolong his days.

17 (O)A man burdened with bloodshed will flee into a pit;
Let no one help him.

18 Whoever walks blamelessly will be [c]saved,
But he who is perverse in his ways will suddenly fall.

19 (P)He who tills his land will have plenty of bread,
But he who follows frivolity will have poverty enough!

20 A faithful man will abound with blessings,
(Q)But he who hastens to be rich will not go unpunished.

21 (R)To [d]show partiality is not good,
(S)Because for a piece of bread a man will transgress.

22 A man with an evil eye hastens after riches,
And does not consider that (T)poverty will come upon him.

23 (U)He who rebukes a man will find more favor afterward
Than he who flatters with the tongue.

24 Whoever robs his father or his mother,
And says, “It is no transgression,”
The same (V)is companion to a destroyer.

25 (W)He who is of a proud heart stirs up strife,
(X)But he who trusts in the Lord will be prospered.

26 He who (Y)trusts in his own heart is a fool,
But whoever walks wisely will be delivered.

27 (Z)He who gives to the poor will not lack,
But he who hides his eyes will have many curses.

28 When the wicked arise, (AA)men hide themselves;
But when they perish, the righteous increase.

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 28:3 Lit. and there is no bread
  2. Proverbs 28:12 Lit. will be searched for
  3. Proverbs 28:18 delivered
  4. Proverbs 28:21 Lit. recognize faces

Cross references

  1. Proverbs 28:1 : Lev. 26:17, 36; Ps. 53:5
  2. Proverbs 28:3 : Matt. 18:28
  3. Proverbs 28:4 : Ps. 49:18; Rom. 1:32
  4. Proverbs 28:4 : 1 Kin. 18:18; Neh. 13:11, 15; Matt. 3:7; 14:4; Eph. 5:11
  5. Proverbs 28:5 : Ps. 92:6; Is. 6:9; 44:18
  6. Proverbs 28:5 : Ps. 119:100; Prov. 2:9; John 17:17; 1 Cor. 2:15; [1 John 2:20, 27]
  7. Proverbs 28:9 : Ps. 66:18; 109:7; Prov. 15:8
  8. Proverbs 28:10 : Ps. 7:15; Prov. 26:27
  9. Proverbs 28:10 : [Matt. 6:33; Heb. 6:12; 1 Pet. 3:9]
  10. Proverbs 28:12 : Prov. 11:10; 29:2
  11. Proverbs 28:13 : Ps. 32:3–5; 1 John 1:8–10
  12. Proverbs 28:15 : Prov. 19:12; 1 Pet. 5:8
  13. Proverbs 28:15 : Ex. 1:14; Prov. 29:2; Matt. 2:16
  14. Proverbs 28:16 : Eccl. 10:16; Is. 3:12
  15. Proverbs 28:17 : Gen. 9:6
  16. Proverbs 28:19 : Prov. 12:11; 20:13
  17. Proverbs 28:20 : Prov. 13:11; 20:21; 23:4; 1 Tim. 6:9
  18. Proverbs 28:21 : Prov. 18:5
  19. Proverbs 28:21 : Ezek. 13:19
  20. Proverbs 28:22 : Prov. 21:5
  21. Proverbs 28:23 : Prov. 27:5, 6
  22. Proverbs 28:24 : Prov. 18:9
  23. Proverbs 28:25 : Prov. 13:10
  24. Proverbs 28:25 : Prov. 29:25; 1 Tim. 6:6
  25. Proverbs 28:26 : Prov. 3:5
  26. Proverbs 28:27 : Deut. 15:7; Prov. 19:17; 22:9
  27. 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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