Proverbs 28
1 Every wicked fleeth when no man pursueth; but the righteous are like the confident young lion.
The wicked have fled and there is no pursuer, And the righteous is confident as a young lion.
2 When there is transgression in a land, it hath many for its princes; but under a man of understanding and knowledge [its] prosperity will long continue.
By the transgression of a land its heads are many, And by an understanding man, Who knows right—it is prolonged.
3 A poor man that oppresseth the indigent is like a sweeping rain which bringeth no bread.
A man—poor and oppressing the weak, [Is] a sweeping rain, and there is no bread.
4 They that forsake the law praise the wicked; but such as observe the law contend with them.
Those forsaking the Law praise the wicked, Those keeping the Law plead against them.
5 Bad men understand not justice; but they that seek the Lord understand all things.
Evil men do not understand judgment, And those seeking YHWH understand all.
6 Better is the poor that walketh in his integrity, than he that 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 Whoso keepeth the law is an intelligent son; but he that is a companion of gluttons bringeth dishonor on his father.
Whoever is keeping the Law is an intelligent son, And a friend of gluttons Causes his father to blush.
8 He that increaseth his wealth by interest and usury will gather it for him that will be kind to the poor.
Whoever is multiplying his wealth by biting and usury, Gathers it for one favoring the poor.
9 When one turneth away his ear so as not to listen to the law, even his prayer becometh an abomination.
Whoever is turning his ear from hearing the Law, Even his prayer [is] an abomination.
10 Whoso causeth the upright to go astray on an evil way, will surely fall into his own ditch; but the men of integrity will inherit what is 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 eyes; but the indigent that hath understanding can search him through.
A rich man is wise in his own eyes, And the intelligent poor searches him.
12 When the righteous exult, there is great splendor; but when the wicked rise up, a man hath to be sought for.
In the exulting of the righteous the glory [is] abundant, And in the rising of the wicked man is apprehensive.
13 He that concealeth his transgressions will not prosper; but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them will obtain mercy.
Whoever is covering his transgressions does not prosper, And he who is confessing and forsaking has mercy.
14 Happy is the man that always dreadeth [to do evil]; but he that hardeneth his heart will fall into unhappiness.
O the blessedness of a man fearing continually, And whoever is hardening his heart falls into evil.
15 As a roaring lion, and a greedy bear, so is a wicked ruler over an indigent people.
A growling lion, and a ranging bear, [Is] the wicked ruler over a poor people.
16 The prince that is void of understanding is also a great oppressor; [but] he that hateth unjust gain will prolong his days.
A leader lacking understanding multiplies oppressions, Whoever is hating dishonest gain prolongs days.
17 A man oppressed by the load of having shed human blood will flee even to the pit: let no man hold him.
A man oppressed with the blood of a soul, Flees to the pit, [and] none takes hold on him [to help].
18 Whoso walketh in integrity will be saved; but he that walketh perversely on two paths, will fall on one.
Whoever is walking uprightly is saved, And the perverted of ways falls at once.
19 He that tilleth his ground will have plenty of bread; but he that runneth after idle persons will have enough of poverty.
Whoever is tilling his ground is satisfied [with] bread, And whoever is pursuing vanity, Is filled [with] poverty.
20 A faithful man will abound with blessings; but he that maketh haste to be rich will not go unpunished.
A steadfast man has multiplied blessings, And whoever is hastening to be rich is not acquitted.
21 To have respect to persons is not good; because even for a piece of bread will a man transgress.
[It] is not good to discern faces, And a man transgresses for a piece of bread.
22 He that is eager for wealth is a man of an evil eye, and he knoweth not that want will come upon him.
The man [with] an evil eye [is] troubled for wealth, And he does not know that want meets him.
23 He that reproveth a man after [my example] will obtain more grace than he that flattereth with the tongue.
Whoever is reproving a man finds grace afterward, More than a flatterer with the tongue.
24 Whoso robbeth his father or his mother, and saith, it is no transgression, —the same is a 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 that hath an insatiable desire stirreth up strife: but he that putteth his trust in the Lord will be abundantly gratified.
Whoever is proud in soul stirs up contention, And whoever is trusting on YHWH is made fat.
26 He that trusteth in his own sense is a fool; but whoso walketh in wisdom, will ever escape.
Whoever is trusting in his heart is a fool, And whoever is walking in wisdom is delivered.
27 He that giveth unto the poor will not have any want; but he that hideth his eyes will have an abundance of curses.
Whoever is giving to the poor has no lack, And whoever is hiding his eyes multiplied curses.
28 When the wicked rise, men conceal 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!
