Proverbs 28

1 A wicked man flees when no man pursues, but the righteous are bold as a lion.

Wicked [people] run away [even] when no one is pursuing them, but righteous/good [people are not afraid]; they are as brave as lions.

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.

When [the people of] a nation sin, they will have one ruler after another; but when their leaders are wise and have good sense, their government will last for a long time.

3 A needy man who oppresses the poor is a sweeping rain which leaves no food.

A poor person who oppresses [other] poor [people] is [like] [MET] a very heavy/hard rain that [destroys the crops], with the result that there is no food [for people to eat].

4 Those who forsake the law praise the wicked, but such as keep the law contend with them.

Those who reject/disobey [God’s] laws always speak well of wicked [people]; but those who obey [God’s] laws [always] oppose what wicked people do.

5 Evil men do not understand justice, but those who seek Jehovah understand all things.

Evil people do not understand what it means to act justly, but those who try to obey/worship Yahweh understand that very well.

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

It is better to be honest [even] though you are poor than to be dishonest [even] though you are rich.

7 He who keeps the law is a wise son, but he who is a companion of gluttons shames his father.

Young people who obey the laws are wise [IDM]; parents whose children associate with those who (carouse/go to wild parties) are humiliated/disgraced because of what their children do.

8 He who augments his substance by interest and increase, gathers it for him who has pity on the poor.

When people become very rich by charging very high interest [DOU], their money will [eventually] go to someone who does kind things for the poor.

9 He who turns away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer is an abomination.

If people do not obey [MTY] [God’s] laws, [God] (detests their prayers/considers that their prayers stink).

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.

Those who cause honest/good [people] to do what is evil will fall into their own pits/traps, but good things will happen to those who (are innocent/have not done what is wrong).

11 The rich man is wise in his own conceit, but a poor man who has understanding searches him out.

[Many] rich people think that they are wise, but poor people who have good sense will find out whether rich people really are wise or not.

12 When the righteous triumph, there is great glory, but when the wicked rise, men hide themselves.

When righteous/good [people] (succeed/win [elections]), everyone (celebrates/is happy); but when wicked [people win], everyone hides [because they are afraid of what the wicked people will do].

13 He who covers his transgressions shall not prosper, but he who confesses and forsakes them shall obtain mercy.

Those who refuse to confess/admit their sins will not prosper, but [God] acts mercifully/kindly toward those who confess their sins and turn away from their sinful behavior.

14 Happy is the man who fears always, but he who hardens his heart shall fall into mischief.

[God] is pleased with those who always revere him, but those who are stubborn [IDM] will experience disasters.

15 A roaring lion, and a ranging bear, is a wicked ruler over a poor people.

Wicked people who [mistreat] poor people whom they rule are [as dangerous to them as] [SIM] a lion roaring [at them] or a bear springing up [to attack them].

16 The ruler who lacks understanding is also a great oppressor, but he who hates covetousness shall prolong his days.

Rulers who do not have good sense cruelly oppress [the people they rule], but rulers who do not want to become rich by cheating/deceiving [people] will live (OR, rule) for a long time.

17 A man who is laden with the blood of any person shall flee to the pit. Let no man stay him.

Those who are guilty of murdering [MTY] another person will (be fugitives/keep running away) until they die; do not help them to escape.

18 He who walks uprightly shall be delivered, but he who is perverse in his ways shall fall at once.

Those who [continually] do what is right will be safe/protected, but those who are dishonest will [suddenly] be ruined.

19 He who tills his land shall have plenty of bread, but he who follows after vanity shall have poverty enough.

Farmers who work [hard] in their fields will [produce good crops and always] have plenty of food [to eat], but those who spend all their time (on useless projects/doing things that do not benefit anyone) will become very poor.

20 A faithful man shall abound with blessings, but he who makes haste to be rich shall not be unpunished.

[God] will greatly bless those who (are trustworthy/always do what they say that they will do), but he will certainly punish [LIT] those who try to become rich quickly.

21 To have respect of persons is not good, nor that a man should transgress for a piece of bread.

It is not good [for judges] to decide matters unfairly/unjustly, but [some] people will do what is wrong [even] if they receive [only] a very small bribe [HYP] [for doing it].

22 He who has an evil eye hastens after riches, and does not know that want shall come upon him.

Selfish people [IDM] are very eager to become rich quickly; they do not realize that they will [soon] become poor.

23 He who rebukes a man shall afterward find more favor than he who flatters with the tongue.

Those who rebuke someone will be appreciated/thanked more than those who [say nice things to others merely] to (flatter them/cause them to feel good).

24 He who robs his father or his mother, and says, It is no transgression, the same is the companion of a destroyer.

Anyone who steals things from his father or his mother and says “That is not sinful” is as bad as a bandit.

25 He who is of a greedy spirit stirs up strife, but he who puts his trust in Jehovah shall be made fat.

Greedy people cause trouble/strife; those who trust in Yahweh will prosper [IDM].

26 He who trusts in his own heart is a fool, but he who walks wisely, he shall be delivered.

Those who believe that what they think [is always right] are foolish; those who act wisely will (escape danger/be safe).

27 He who gives to the poor shall not lack, but he who hides his eyes shall have many a curse.

Those who give things to poor [people] will not become poor, but many [people] will curse those who refuse to help [IDM] poor people.

28 When the wicked rise, men hide themselves, but when they perish, the righteous increase.

When wicked [people] become rulers, people hide [because they are afraid of what those wicked people will do]; but when wicked people are no longer rulers, good/righteous [people will] become the rulers.