Proverbs 28
1 The lawless, fleeth when no man pursueth, but, the righteous, like a lion, are confident.
The wicked have fled and there is no pursuer, And the righteous is confident as a young lion.
2 For the transgressions of a land, many are the rulers thereof, but, under an intelligent and discerning man, stability is prolonged.
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, who oppresseth the helpless, [is like] a rain beating down, leaving no food.
A man—poor and oppressing the weak, [Is] a sweeping rain, and there is no bread.
4 They who forsake instruction, praise one who is lawless, while, they who keep instruction, are at strife with them.
Those forsaking the Law praise the wicked, Those keeping the Law plead against them.
5 Wicked men, consider not justice, but, they who seek Yahweh, consider everything.
Evil men do not understand judgment, And those seeking YHWH understand all.
6 Better a poor man walking in his integrity, than one who is crooked—turning two ways, though, he, be rich.
Better [is] the poor walking in his integrity, Than the perverse of ways who is rich.
7 He that keepeth instruction, is a son with discernment, but, a companion of squanderers, bringeth shame to 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 substance by interest and profit, for one ready to favour the poor, doth gather it.
Whoever is multiplying his wealth by biting and usury, Gathers it for one favoring the poor.
9 He that turneth away his ear from hearing instruction, even his prayer, is an abomination.
Whoever is turning his ear from hearing the Law, Even his prayer [is] an abomination.
10 He that misguideth the upright into a hurtful way! into his own pit, he himself, shall fall, but, men of integrity, shall inherit good.
Whoever is causing the upright to err in an evil way, He falls into his own pit, And the perfect inherits good.
11 Wise in his own eyes, is the man that is rich, but, a poor man of discernment, searcheth him out.
A rich man is wise in his own eyes, And the intelligent poor searches him.
12 In the exulting of the righteous, there is great glorying, but, when the lawless arise, a man must 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 covereth his transgressions, shall not prosper, but, he that confesseth and forsaketh, shall find compassion.
Whoever is covering his transgressions does not prosper, And he who is confessing and forsaking has mercy.
14 How happy the man who is ever circumspect, whereas, he that hardeneth his heart, shall fall into calamity.
O the blessedness of a man fearing continually, And whoever is hardening his heart falls into evil.
15 A growling lion, and a ranging bear, is a lawless ruler, over a poor people.
A growling lion, and a ranging bear, [Is] the wicked ruler over a poor people.
16 A leader, may lack intelligence, yet abound in oppressions, The hater of greed, shall lengthen out days.
A leader lacking understanding multiplies oppressions, Whoever is hating dishonest gain prolongs days.
17 A man oppressed with a person’s blood, unto a pit, shall flee, let them not hold him back.
A man oppressed with the blood of a soul, Flees to the pit, [and] none takes hold on him [to help].
18 He that walketh with integrity, shall be saved, but, he that is crooked, turning two ways, shall fall in one.
Whoever is walking uprightly is saved, And the perverted of ways falls at once.
19 He that tilleth his ground, shall have plenty of bread, but, he that pursueth empty-heads, shall have plenty of poverty.
Whoever is tilling his ground is satisfied [with] bread, And whoever is pursuing vanity, Is filled [with] poverty.
20 A man of fidelity, aboundeth in blessings, but, one hasting to be rich, shall not be held innocent.
A steadfast man has multiplied blessings, And whoever is hastening to be rich is not acquitted.
21 To take note of faces [in judgment], is not good, and, for a bit of bread, a man will transgress.
[It] is not good to discern faces, And a man transgresses for a piece of bread.
22 A man, hasting to be rich, hath an evil eye, and knoweth not when want may overtake 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, shall, afterwards, find more, favour, than he that useth a flattering tongue.
Whoever is reproving a man finds grace afterward, More than a flatterer with the tongue.
24 He that robbeth his father or his mother, and saith, It is no transgression, companion, is he to one who wasteth.
Whoever is robbing his father or his mother, And is saying, “It is not transgression,” He is a companion to a destroyer.
25 The ambitious in soul, stirreth up strife, but, he that trusteth in Yahweh, shall be enriched.
Whoever is proud in soul stirs up contention, And whoever is trusting on YHWH is made fat.
26 He that trusteth his own heart, the same, is a dullard, but, he that walketh wisely, the same, shall be delivered.
Whoever is trusting in his heart is a fool, And whoever is walking in wisdom is delivered.
27 One who giveth to the poor, shall have no want, but, he that hideth his eyes, shall receive many a curse.
Whoever is giving to the poor has no lack, And whoever is hiding his eyes multiplied curses.
28 When lawless men rise, a common man will hide himself, but, when they perish, righteous men multiply.
A man is hidden in the rising of the wicked, And the righteous multiply in their destruction!
