Proverbs 28
28
1Sinners run away even when no one is chasing them.
But those who do what is right are as bold as lions.
2A country has many rulers when its people don’t obey.
But an understanding ruler knows how to keep order.
3A ruler who treats poor people badly
is like a pounding rain that leaves no crops.
4Those who turn away from instruction praise sinners.
But those who learn from it oppose them.
5Sinful people don’t understand what is right.
But those who worship the Lord understand it completely.
6It is better to be poor and live without blame
than to be rich and follow a crooked path.
7A child who understands what is right learns from instruction.
But a child who likes to eat too much brings shame on his father.
8Someone might get rich by taking interest or profit from poor people.
But that person only piles up wealth for someone who will be kind to poor people.
9If you don’t pay attention to my instruction,
even your prayers are hated.
10Those who lead honest people down an evil path
will fall into their own trap.
But those who are without blame
will receive good things.
11Rich people may think they are wise.
But a poor person with understanding knows that rich people are fooling themselves.
12When godly people win, everyone is very happy.
But when sinners take charge, everyone hides.
13Anyone who hides their sins doesn’t succeed.
But anyone who admits their sins and gives them up finds mercy.
14Blessed is the one who always trembles in front of God.
But anyone who makes their heart stubborn will get into trouble.
15An evil person who rules over helpless people
is like a roaring lion or an angry bear.
16A ruler who is mean to his people takes money from them by force.
But one who hates money gained in the wrong way will rule a long time.
17Anyone troubled by the guilt of murder
will seek to escape their guilt by death.
No one should keep them from it.
18Anyone who lives without blame is kept safe.
But anyone whose path is crooked will fall into the pit.
19Those who work their land will have plenty of food.
But those who chase dreams will be very poor.
20A faithful person will be richly blessed.
But anyone who wants to get rich will be punished.
21Favoring one person over another is not good.
But a person will do wrong for a piece of bread.
22Those who won’t share what they have want to get rich.
They don’t know they are going to be poor.
23It is better to warn a person than to pretend to praise them.
In the end that person will be more pleased with you.
24Anyone who steals from their parents and says, “It’s not wrong,”
is just like someone who destroys.
25People who always want more stir up conflict.
But those who trust in the Lord will succeed.
26Those who trust in themselves are foolish.
But those who live wisely are kept safe.
27Those who give to poor people will have all they need.
But those who close their eyes to the poor will receive many curses.
28When those who are evil take charge, other people hide.
But when those who are evil die, godly people grow stronger.
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Proverbs 28: NIrV
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Proverbs 28
28
1 #
Lev. 26:17; Ps. 53:5 The wicked flee when no one pursues,
but #Lev. 26:8; 1 Sam. 17:32the righteous are bold as a lion.
2When a land transgresses, #[1 Kgs. 15:27]; See 1 Kgs. 16:8-28; 2 Kgs. 15:8-15it has many rulers,
but with a man of understanding and knowledge,
its stability will long continue.
3 # [Matt. 18:28] A poor man who oppresses the poor
is a beating rain that leaves no food.
4Those who forsake the law #Ps. 10:3; Rom. 1:32 praise the wicked,
but those who keep the law #[1 Kgs. 18:18, 21; Neh. 13:11, 15; Matt. 3:7; 14:4; Eph. 5:11]strive against them.
5Evil men #Ps. 92:6; [John 12:39, 40] do not understand justice,
but those who seek the Lord #Ps. 119:100; [John 7:17; 1 Cor. 2:15; James 1:5; 1 John 2:20, 27]understand it completely.
6 # ch. 19:1 Better is a poor man who #ver. 18walks in his integrity
than a rich man who is #ver. 18crooked in his ways.
7The one who keeps the law is a son with understanding,
but #[ch. 23:20; 29:3]a companion of gluttons shames his father.
8Whoever multiplies his wealth #Ex. 22:25; Lev. 25:36 by interest and profit#28:8 That is, profit that comes from charging interest to the poor
# See Job 27:17 gathers it for him who is #ch. 14:31generous to the poor.
9If one turns away his ear from hearing the law,
even his #[Ps. 109:7]; See ch. 15:8prayer is an abomination.
10Whoever misleads the upright into an evil way
# See Ps. 7:15 will fall into his own pit,
but the blameless #[Matt. 6:33]will have a goodly inheritance.
11A rich man is wise in his #ch. 26:5, 16 own eyes,
but a poor man who has understanding #Job 13:9will find him out.
12When #ch. 11:10 the righteous triumph, there is great glory,
but when #ver. 28; [ch. 29:2; Eccles. 10:5, 6]the wicked rise, people hide themselves.
13Whoever #[Job 31:33; Ps. 32:3]; See 1 John 1:8-10 conceals his transgressions will not prosper,
but he who #Ps. 32:5; 1 John 1:9confesses and forsakes them will obtain mercy.
14Blessed is the one who #ch. 23:17; Isa. 66:2; Phil. 2:12 fears the Lord#28:14 Hebrew lacks the Lord always,
but whoever #See Ps. 95:8hardens his heart will fall into calamity.
15Like #ch. 19:12; 1 Pet. 5:8 a roaring lion or #[2 Kgs. 2:24] a charging bear
is #[Ex. 1:14, 16, 22; Matt. 2:16]a wicked ruler over a poor people.
16A ruler who #See ch. 6:32lacks understanding is a cruel oppressor,
but he who hates unjust gain will prolong his days.
17If one is burdened with #[Gen. 9:6]the blood of another,
he will be a fugitive until death;#28:17 Hebrew until the pit
let no one help him.
18 # [ch. 3:23; 10:9] Whoever #ver. 6walks in integrity will be delivered,
but he who is crooked in his ways will suddenly fall.
19 # ch. 12:11 Whoever works his land will have plenty of bread,
but he who follows worthless pursuits will have plenty of poverty.
20A faithful man will abound with blessings,
but whoever hastens to be rich #ch. 16:5will not go unpunished.
21To show #See ch. 18:5 partiality is not good,
but for #Ezek. 13:19a piece of bread a man will do wrong.
22A #See ch. 23:6 stingy man#28:22 Hebrew A man whose eye is evil #[ver. 20] hastens after wealth
and does not know that #ch. 22:16poverty will come upon him.
23Whoever #ch. 27:5, 6 rebukes a man will afterward find more favor
than #ch. 29:5he who flatters with his tongue.
24Whoever robs his father or his mother
and says, “That is no transgression,”
is #[ch. 18:9]a companion to a man who destroys.
25A greedy man #See ch. 15:18 stirs up strife,
but the one who trusts in the Lord will #ch. 11:25; 13:4be enriched.
26Whoever #[1 Cor. 3:18]trusts in his own mind is a fool,
but he who walks in wisdom will be delivered.
27Whoever #[ch. 11:24]; See ch. 19:17 gives to the poor will not want,
but he who #[ch. 29:7]hides his eyes will get many a curse.
28When #See ver. 12 the wicked rise, #Job 24:4people hide themselves,
but when they perish, the righteous increase.
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