Proverbs 28

1 The wicked man fleeth, when no man pursueth: but the just, bold as a lion, shall be without dread.

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 sins of the land many are the princes thereof: and for the wisdom of a man, and the knowledge of those things that are said, the life of the prince 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 poor man that oppresseth the poor, is like a violent shower, which bringeth a famine.

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 They that forsake the law, praise the wicked man: they that keep it, are incensed against him.

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 think not on judgment: but they that seek after the Lord, take notice of 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 walking in his simplicity, than the rich in crooked ways.

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

7 He that keepeth the law is a wise son: but he that feedeth gluttons, shameth 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 heapeth together riches by usury and loan, gathereth them for him that will be bountiful to 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 turneth away his ears from hearing the law, his prayer shall be as abomination.

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

10 He that deceiveth the just in a wicked way, shall fall in his own destruction: and the upright shall possess his goods.

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 seemeth to himself wise: but the poor man that is prudent shall search 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 In the joy of the just there is great glory: when the wicked reign, men are ruined.

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 hideth his sins, shall not prosper: but he that shall confess, and forsake 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 Blessed is the man that is always fearful: but he that is hardened in mind, shall fall into evil.

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

15 As a roaring lion, and a hungry bear, so is a wicked prince over the 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 A prince void of prudence shall oppress many by calumny: but he that hateth 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 that doth violence to the blood of a person, if he flee even to the pit, no man will 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 that walketh uprightly, shall be saved: he that 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 that tilleth his ground, shall be filled with bread: but he that followeth idleness shall be filled with 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 faithful man shall be much praised: but he that maketh haste to be rich, shall not be innocent.

[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 hath respect to a person in judgment, doth not well: such a man even for a morsel of bread forsaketh the truth.

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 A man, that maketh haste to be rich, and envieth others, is ignorant that poverty 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 that rebuketh a man, shall afterward find favour with him, more than he that by a flattering tongue deceiveth him.

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 stealeth any thing from his father, or from his mother: and saith, This is no sin, is the partner of a murderer.

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

25 He that boasteth, and puffeth up himself, stirreth up quarrels: but he that trusteth in the Lord, shall be healed.

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

26 He that trusteth in his own heart, is a fool: but he that walketh wisely, he shall be saved.

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

27 He that giveth to the poor, shall not want: he that despiseth his entreaty, shall suffer indigence.

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 up, men shall hide themselves: when they perish, the lust 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.