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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Holy Bible, New International Reader’s Version®, NIrV®
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Proverbs 28
28
1The wicked flee when no one is pursuing them, # Lv 26:17; Ps 53:5
but the righteous are as bold as a lion. # Eph 6:19-20
2When a land is in rebellion, it has many rulers, # 1Kg 16:8-28; 2Kg 15:8-15
but with a discerning and knowledgeable person, it endures.
3A destitute leader # LXX reads A wicked man who oppresses the poor
is like a driving rain that leaves no food. # Ex 9:25
4Those who reject the law praise the wicked, # Rm 1:32
but those who keep the law battle against them. # 1Kg 18:18; Neh 13:11,15; Mt 3:7; 14:4; Eph 5:11
5Evil men do not understand justice, # Ps 92:6
but those who seek the Lord understand everything. # Ps 119:100; Jn 7:17; 1Co 2:15; Jms 1:5; 1Jn 2:20,27
6Better a poor man who lives with integrity # Pr 19:1; 20:7
than a rich man who distorts right and wrong. # Lit who twists two ways # Pr 16:8,19; 19:22; Is 5:20
7A discerning son keeps the law,
but a companion of gluttons humiliates his father. # Dt 21:20; Pr 17:25; 23:20; 29:3
8Whoever increases his wealth through excessive interest # Ex 22:25; Lv 25:36
collects it for one who is kind to the poor. # Jb 27:17; Pr 13:22; Ec 2:26; Ezk 18:13,17
9Anyone who turns his ear away from hearing the law —
even his prayer is detestable. # Ps 109:7; Pr 15:8,29; 21:27
10The one who leads the upright into an evil way
will fall into his own pit, # Ps 7:15; Pr 16:29; 26:27; Mt 18:6
but the blameless will inherit what is good. # Mt 5:6
11A rich man is wise in his own eyes,
but a poor man who has discernment sees through him.
12When the righteous triumph,
there is great rejoicing, # Lit glory
but when the wicked come to power,
people hide themselves. # Pr 11:10; 28:28; 29:2; Ec 10:5-6
13The one who conceals his sins
will not prosper, # Jb 31:33; Ps 32:3
but whoever confesses and renounces them
will find mercy. # Ps 32:5; Jms 5:16; 1Jn 1:9
14Happy is the one who is always reverent, # 2Ch 19:7; Pr 23:17
but one who hardens his heart falls into trouble. # Ps 95:8
15A wicked ruler over a helpless people # Ex 1:14; Pr 29:2; Mt 2:16
is like a roaring lion or a charging bear. # Pr 19:12; 1Pt 5:8
16A leader who lacks understanding
is very oppressive,
but one who hates dishonest profit
prolongs his life. # 1Kg 12:1-19; Ps 15:5; Pr 15:27
17A man burdened by bloodguilt # Lit the blood of a person
will be a fugitive until death. # Gn 4:14; 9:6; Ex 21:14
Let no one help him. # Nm 35:31
18The one who lives with integrity will be helped,
but one who distorts right and wrong # Lit who is twisted regarding two ways
will suddenly fall. # Pr 2:7; 10:9; 20:7
19The one who works his land
will have plenty of food, # Pr 24:27
but whoever chases fantasies
will have his fill of poverty. # Pr 1:31; 12:11,14; 14:14
20A faithful man will have many blessings, # Pr 10:6; Mt 25:21
but one in a hurry to get rich # Pr 20:21; 28:22; 1Tm 6:9
will not go unpunished.
21It is not good to show partiality # Pr 18:5; 24:23 —
yet a man may sin for a piece of bread. # Ezk 13:19
22A greedy man # Lit A man with an evil eye is in a hurry for wealth;
he doesn’t know that poverty will come to him. # Pr 13:11; 20:21; 21:5; 22:16
23One who rebukes a person will later find more favor # Pr 27:5-6
than one who flatters # Lit is smooth with his tongue. # Pr 26:28; 29:5
24The one who robs his father or mother # Pr 19:6
and says, “That’s no sin,” # Pr 30:20; Mk 7:11
is a companion to a man who destroys. # Pr 18:9
25A greedy person provokes conflict, # Pr 15:18
but whoever trusts in the Lord will prosper. # Ps 37:3-5; Pr 3:5-6; Jr 17:7-8
26The one who trusts in himself # Lit his heart is a fool,
but one who walks in wisdom will be safe. # Pr 3:5-7
27The one who gives to the poor
will not be in need,
but one who turns his eyes away # Lit who shuts his eyes
will receive many curses. # Pr 11:24; 19:17; 22:16
28When the wicked come to power,
people hide,
but when they are destroyed,
the righteous flourish. # Pr 28:12; 29:2
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