Proverbs 28

1 The wicked flee when no man pursueth: but the righteous are bold as a lion.

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 transgression of a land many [are] its princes: but by a man of understanding [and] knowledge the state [thereof] 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 sweeping rain which leaveth 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 that forsake the law praise the wicked: but such as keep the law contend 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 Evil men understand not judgment: but they that seek the LORD understand 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 that walketh in his uprightness, than [he that is] perverse [in his] ways, though he [is] rich.

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

7 He who keepeth the law [is] a wise son: but he that is a companion of riotous [men] 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 by usury and unjust gain increaseth his substance, he shall gather it for him that will pity 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 ear from hearing the law, even his prayer [shall be] abomination.

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

10 Whoever causeth the righteous to go astray in an evil way, he shall fall himself into his own pit: but the upright shall have good [things] in possession.

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 [is] wise in his own conceit; but the poor man that hath understanding 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 When righteous [men] rejoice, [there is] great glory: but when the wicked rise, a man is hidden.

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 sins shall not prosper: but he who confesseth and forsaketh [them] shall have 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 Happy [is] the man that feareth always: but he that hardeneth his heart shall fall into mischief.

[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 ranging bear; [so is] a wicked ruler 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 The prince that wanteth understanding [is] also a great oppressor: [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 doeth violence to the blood of [any] person shall flee to the pit; let no man 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 who walketh uprightly shall be saved: but [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 land shall have plenty of bread: but he that followeth after vain [persons] shall have poverty enough.

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 abound with blessings: 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 To have respect of persons [is] not good: for, for a piece of bread [that] 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 He that hasteth to be rich [hath] an evil eye, and considereth not 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 afterward shall find more favor than he that flattereth with the 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; the same [is] the companion of a destroyer.

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 is of a proud heart stirreth up strife: but he that putteth his trust in the LORD shall be made fat.

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 whoever walketh wisely, he 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 He that giveth to the poor shall not want: but he that hideth his eyes shall have 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 the wicked rise, men hide themselves: but when they perish, the righteous increase.

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.