Proverbs 28

1 The ungodly [man] flees when no one pursues: but the righteous is confident 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 By reason of the sins of ungodly men quarrels arise; but a wise man will quell them.

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 bold man oppresses the poor by ungodly deeds. As an impetuous and profitable rain,

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 so they that forsake the law praise ungodliness; but they that love the law fortify themselves with a wall.

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 will not understand judgement: but they that seek the Lord will understand everything.

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

6 A poor man walking in truth is better than a rich liar.

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

7 A wise son keeps the law: but he that keeps up debauchery dishonours 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 that increases his wealth by usuries and [unjust] gains, gathers it for him that pities 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 that turns away his ear from hearing the law, even he has made his prayer abominable.

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

10 He that causes upright men to err in an evil way, himself shall fall into destruction: transgressor also shall pass by prosperity, but shall not enter into it.

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 A rich man is wise in his own conceit; but an intelligent poor man will condemn him.

[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 By reason of the help of righteous men great glory arises: but in the places of the ungodly men are caught.

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 that covers his own ungodliness shall not prosper: but he that blames [himself] shall be loved.

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 Blessed is the man who religiously fears always: but the hard of heart shall fall into mischiefs.

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

15 A hungry lion and a thirsty wolf [is he], who, being poor, rules over a poor nation.

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 A king in need of revenues is a great oppressor: but he that hates injustice shall live a long time.

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 He that becomes surety for a man charged with murder shall be an exile, and not in safety. Chasten your son, and he shall love you, and give honour to your soul: he shall not obey a sinful nation.

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 that walks justly is assisted: but he that walks in crooked ways shall be entangled [therein].

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

19 He that tills his own land shall be satisfied with bread: but he that follows idleness shall have plenty of poverty.

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 man worthy of credit shall be much blessed: but the wicked 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 He that reverences not the persons of the just is not good: such a one will sell a man for a morsel 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 An envious man makes haste to be rich, and knows not that the merciful man will have the mastery over him.

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

23 He that reproves a man's ways shall have more favour than he that 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 that casts off father or mother, and thinks he sins not; the same is partaker with an ungodly man.

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

25 An unbelieving man judges rashly: but he that trusts in the Lord will act carefully.

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

26 He that trusts to a bold heart, such an one is a fool: but he that walks in wisdom shall be safe.

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

27 He that gives to the poor shall not be in lack: but he that turns away his eye [from him] shall be in great distress.

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 In the places of ungodly [men] the righteous mourn: but in their destruction the righteous shall be multiplied.

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.