Proverbs 28
1 A wicked man flees when no man pursues, but the righteous are bold as a lion.
The wicked have fled and there is no pursuer, And the righteous is confident as a young lion.
2 For the transgression of a land many are the rulers of it. But by men of understanding and knowledge the state shall be prolonged.
By the transgression of a land its heads are many, And by an understanding man, Who knows right—it is prolonged.
3 A needy man who oppresses the poor is a sweeping rain which leaves no food.
A man—poor and oppressing the weak, [Is] a sweeping rain, and there is no bread.
4 Those who forsake the law praise the wicked, but such as keep the law contend with them.
Those forsaking the Law praise the wicked, Those keeping the Law plead against them.
5 Evil men do not understand justice, but those who seek Jehovah understand all things.
Evil men do not understand judgment, And those seeking YHWH understand all.
6 Better is the poor man who walks in his integrity, than he who is perverse in his ways, though he be rich.
Better [is] the poor walking in his integrity, Than the perverse of ways who is rich.
7 He who keeps the law is a wise son, but he who is a companion of gluttons shames his father.
Whoever is keeping the Law is an intelligent son, And a friend of gluttons Causes his father to blush.
8 He who augments his substance by interest and increase, gathers it for him who has pity on the poor.
Whoever is multiplying his wealth by biting and usury, Gathers it for one favoring the poor.
9 He who turns away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer is an abomination.
Whoever is turning his ear from hearing the Law, Even his prayer [is] an abomination.
10 He who causes the upright to go astray in an evil way, he shall fall himself into his own pit. But the perfect shall inherit good.
Whoever is causing the upright to err in an evil way, He falls into his own pit, And the perfect inherits good.
11 The rich man is wise in his own conceit, but a poor man who has understanding searches him out.
A rich man is wise in his own eyes, And the intelligent poor searches him.
12 When the righteous triumph, there is great glory, but when the wicked rise, men hide themselves.
In the exulting of the righteous the glory [is] abundant, And in the rising of the wicked man is apprehensive.
13 He who covers his transgressions shall not prosper, but he who confesses and forsakes them shall obtain mercy.
Whoever is covering his transgressions does not prosper, And he who is confessing and forsaking has mercy.
14 Happy is the man who fears always, but he who hardens his heart shall fall into mischief.
O the blessedness of a man fearing continually, And whoever is hardening his heart falls into evil.
15 A roaring lion, and a ranging bear, is a wicked ruler over a poor people.
A growling lion, and a ranging bear, [Is] the wicked ruler over a poor people.
16 The ruler who lacks understanding is also a great oppressor, but he who hates covetousness shall prolong his days.
A leader lacking understanding multiplies oppressions, Whoever is hating dishonest gain prolongs days.
17 A man who is laden with the blood of any person shall flee to the pit. Let no man stay him.
A man oppressed with the blood of a soul, Flees to the pit, [and] none takes hold on him [to help].
18 He who walks uprightly shall be delivered, but he who is perverse in his ways shall fall at once.
Whoever is walking uprightly is saved, And the perverted of ways falls at once.
19 He who tills his land shall have plenty of bread, but he who follows after vanity shall have poverty enough.
Whoever is tilling his ground is satisfied [with] bread, And whoever is pursuing vanity, Is filled [with] poverty.
20 A faithful man shall abound with blessings, but he who makes haste to be rich shall not be unpunished.
A steadfast man has multiplied blessings, And whoever is hastening to be rich is not acquitted.
21 To have respect of persons is not good, nor that a man should transgress for a piece of bread.
[It] is not good to discern faces, And a man transgresses for a piece of bread.
22 He who has an evil eye hastens after riches, and does not know that want shall come upon him.
The man [with] an evil eye [is] troubled for wealth, And he does not know that want meets him.
23 He who rebukes a man shall afterward find more favor than he who flatters with the tongue.
Whoever is reproving a man finds grace afterward, More than a flatterer with the tongue.
24 He who robs his father or his mother, and says, It is no transgression, the same is the companion of a destroyer.
Whoever is robbing his father or his mother, And is saying, “It is not transgression,” He is a companion to a destroyer.
25 He who is of a greedy spirit stirs up strife, but he who puts his trust in Jehovah shall be made fat.
Whoever is proud in soul stirs up contention, And whoever is trusting on YHWH is made fat.
26 He who trusts in his own heart is a fool, but he who walks wisely, he shall be delivered.
Whoever is trusting in his heart is a fool, And whoever is walking in wisdom is delivered.
27 He who gives to the poor shall not lack, but he who hides his eyes shall have many a curse.
Whoever is giving to the poor has no lack, And whoever is hiding his eyes multiplied curses.
28 When the wicked rise, men hide themselves, but when they perish, the righteous increase.
A man is hidden in the rising of the wicked, And the righteous multiply in their destruction!
