Proverbs 28
1 The wicked flee when no one pursues; but the righteous are as 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 In rebellion, a land has many rulers, but order is maintained by a man of understanding and knowledge.
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 needy man who oppresses the poor is like a driving rain which leaves no crops.
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 Those who forsake the Torah praise the wicked; but those who keep the Torah 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 don’t understand justice; but those who seek the LORD understand it fully.
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 who walks in his integrity than he who is perverse in his ways, and he is rich.
It is better to be honest [even] though you are poor than to be dishonest [even] though you are rich.
7 Whoever keeps the Torah is a wise son; but he who is a companion of gluttons shames 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 who increases his wealth by excessive interest gathers it for one who has pity on 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 who turns away his ear from hearing the Torah, 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 Whoever causes the upright to go astray in an evil way, he will fall into his own trap; but the blameless will 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 The rich man is wise in his own eyes; but the poor who has understanding sees through him.
[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 the righteous triumph, there is great glory; but when the wicked rise, men hide themselves.
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 who conceals his sins doesn’t prosper, but whoever confesses and renounces them finds 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 Blessed is the man who always fears; but one who hardens his heart falls into trouble.
[God] is pleased with those who always revere him, but those who are stubborn [IDM] will experience disasters.
15 As a roaring lion or a charging bear, so is a wicked ruler over helpless 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 tyrannical ruler lacks judgment. One who hates ill-gotten gain will have long 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 who is tormented by blood guilt will be a fugitive until death. No one will support 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 Whoever walks blamelessly is kept safe; but one with perverse ways will fall suddenly.
Those who [continually] do what is right will be safe/protected, but those who are dishonest will [suddenly] be ruined.
19 One who works his land will have an abundance of food; but one who chases fantasies will have his fill 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 faithful man is rich with blessings; but one who is eager to be rich will not go unpunished.
[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 show partiality is not good, yet a man will do wrong for a piece of bread.
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 stingy man hurries after riches, and doesn’t know that poverty waits for him.
Selfish people [IDM] are very eager to become rich quickly; they do not realize that they will [soon] become poor.
23 One who rebukes a man will afterward find more favor than one who flatters 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 Whoever robs his father or his mother and says, “It’s not wrong,” is a partner with 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 One who is greedy stirs up strife; but one who trusts in the LORD will prosper.
Greedy people cause trouble/strife; those who trust in Yahweh will prosper [IDM].
26 One who trusts in himself is a fool; but one who walks in wisdom is kept safe.
Those who believe that what they think [is always right] are foolish; those who act wisely will (escape danger/be safe).
27 One who gives to the poor has no lack; but one who closes his eyes will have many curses.
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 thrive.
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.
