Proverbs 28

1 The lawless, fleeth when no man pursueth, but, the righteous, like a lion, are confident.

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 transgressions of a land, many are the rulers thereof, but, under an intelligent and discerning man, stability is 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, who oppresseth the helpless, [is like] a rain beating down, leaving no food.

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 who forsake instruction, praise one who is lawless, while, they who keep instruction, are at strife with them.

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 Wicked men, consider not justice, but, they who seek Yahweh, consider 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 Better a poor man walking in his integrity, than one who is crooked—turning two ways, though, he, be rich.

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

7 He that keepeth instruction, is a son with discernment, but, a companion of squanderers, bringeth shame to 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 increaseth his substance by interest and profit, for one ready to favour the poor, doth gather it.

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 ear from hearing instruction, even his prayer, is an abomination.

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

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.

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 Wise in his own eyes, is the man that is rich, but, a poor man of discernment, searcheth 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 exulting of the righteous, there is great glorying, but, when the lawless arise, a man must be sought for.

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 covereth his transgressions, shall not prosper, but, he that confesseth and forsaketh, shall find compassion.

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 How happy the man who is ever circumspect, whereas, he that hardeneth his heart, shall fall into calamity.

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

15 A growling lion, and a ranging bear, is a lawless ruler, over a 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 leader, may lack intelligence, yet abound in oppressions, The hater of greed, shall lengthen out 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 oppressed with a person’s blood, unto a pit, shall flee, let them not hold him back.

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 with integrity, shall be saved, but, he that is crooked, turning two ways, shall fall in one.

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 have plenty of bread, but, he that pursueth empty-heads, 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 of fidelity, aboundeth in blessings, but, one hasting to be rich, shall not be held 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 To take note of faces [in judgment], is not good, and, for a bit of bread, a man will transgress.

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, hasting to be rich, hath an evil eye, and knoweth not when want may overtake him.

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

23 He that reproveth a man, shall, afterwards, find more, favour, than he that useth a flattering 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 robbeth his father or his mother, and saith, It is no transgression, companion, is he to one who wasteth.

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

25 The ambitious in soul, stirreth up strife, but, he that trusteth in Yahweh, shall be enriched.

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

26 He that trusteth his own heart, the same, is a dullard, but, he that walketh wisely, the same, shall be delivered.

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

27 One who giveth to the poor, shall have no want, but, he that hideth his eyes, shall receive many a curse.

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 lawless men rise, a common man will hide himself, but, when they perish, righteous men multiply.

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.