Proverbs 28
1 The wicked have fled and there is no pursuer, And the righteous is confident as a young lion.
The wicked flee when no one pursues; but the righteous are as bold as a lion.
2 By the transgression of a land its heads are many, And by an understanding man, Who knows right—it is prolonged.
In rebellion, a land has many rulers, but order is maintained by a man of understanding and knowledge.
3 A man—poor and oppressing the weak, [Is] a sweeping rain, and there is no bread.
A needy man who oppresses the poor is like a driving rain which leaves no crops.
4 Those forsaking the Law praise the wicked, Those keeping the Law plead against them.
Those who forsake the law praise the wicked; but those who keep the law contend with them.
5 Evil men do not understand judgment, And those seeking YHWH understand all.
Evil men don’t understand justice; but those who seek the LORD understand it fully.
6 Better [is] the poor walking in his integrity, Than the perverse of ways who is rich.
Better is the poor who walks in his integrity than he who is perverse in his ways, and he is rich.
7 Whoever is keeping the Law is an intelligent son, And a friend of gluttons Causes his father to blush.
Whoever keeps the law is a wise son; but he who is a companion of gluttons shames his father.
8 Whoever is multiplying his wealth by biting and usury, Gathers it for one favoring the poor.
He who increases his wealth by excessive interest gathers it for one who has pity on the poor.
9 Whoever is turning his ear from hearing the Law, Even his prayer [is] an abomination.
He who turns away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer is an abomination.
10 Whoever is causing the upright to err in an evil way, He falls into his own pit, And the perfect inherits good.
Whoever causes the upright to go astray in an evil way, he will fall into his own trap; but the blameless will inherit good.
11 A rich man is wise in his own eyes, And the intelligent poor searches him.
The rich man is wise in his own eyes; but the poor who has understanding sees through him.
12 In the exulting of the righteous the glory [is] abundant, And in the rising of the wicked man is apprehensive.
When the righteous triumph, there is great glory; but when the wicked rise, men hide themselves.
13 Whoever is covering his transgressions does not prosper, And he who is confessing and forsaking has mercy.
He who conceals his sins doesn’t prosper, but whoever confesses and renounces them finds mercy.
14 O the blessedness of a man fearing continually, And whoever is hardening his heart falls into evil.
Blessed is the man who always fears; but one who hardens his heart falls into trouble.
15 A growling lion, and a ranging bear, [Is] the wicked ruler over a poor people.
As a roaring lion or a charging bear, so is a wicked ruler over helpless people.
16 A leader lacking understanding multiplies oppressions, Whoever is hating dishonest gain prolongs days.
A tyrannical ruler lacks judgement. One who hates ill-gotten gain will have long days.
17 A man oppressed with the blood of a soul, Flees to the pit, [and] none takes hold on him [to help].
A man who is tormented by blood guilt will be a fugitive until death. No one will support him.
18 Whoever is walking uprightly is saved, And the perverted of ways falls at once.
Whoever walks blamelessly is kept safe; but one with perverse ways will fall suddenly.
19 Whoever is tilling his ground is satisfied [with] bread, And whoever is pursuing vanity, Is filled [with] poverty.
One who works his land will have an abundance of food; but one who chases fantasies will have his fill of poverty.
20 A steadfast man has multiplied blessings, And whoever is hastening to be rich is not acquitted.
A faithful man is rich with blessings; but one who is eager to be rich will not go unpunished.
21 [It] is not good to discern faces, And a man transgresses for a piece of bread.
To show partiality is not good, yet a man will do wrong for a piece of bread.
22 The man [with] an evil eye [is] troubled for wealth, And he does not know that want meets him.
A stingy man hurries after riches, and doesn’t know that poverty waits for him.
23 Whoever is reproving a man finds grace afterward, More than a flatterer with the tongue.
One who rebukes a man will afterward find more favour than one who flatters with the tongue.
24 Whoever is robbing his father or his mother, And is saying, “It is not transgression,” He is a companion to a destroyer.
Whoever robs his father or his mother and says, “It’s not wrong,” is a partner with a destroyer.
25 Whoever is proud in soul stirs up contention, And whoever is trusting on YHWH is made fat.
One who is greedy stirs up strife; but one who trusts in the LORD will prosper.
26 Whoever is trusting in his heart is a fool, And whoever is walking in wisdom is delivered.
One who trusts in himself is a fool; but one who walks in wisdom is kept safe.
27 Whoever is giving to the poor has no lack, And whoever is hiding his eyes multiplied curses.
One who gives to the poor has no lack; but one who closes his eyes will have many curses.
28 A man is hidden in the rising of the wicked, And the righteous multiply in their destruction!
When the wicked rise, men hide themselves; but when they perish, the righteous thrive.
