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#28:3 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 pit themselves against them.#1Kg 18:18; Neh 13:11,15; Mt 3:7; 14:4; Eph 5:11
5The evil 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 the poor person who lives with integrity#Pr 19:1; 20:7
than the rich one who distorts right and wrong.#28:6 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 person is wise in his own eyes,
but a poor one who has discernment sees through him.
12When the righteous triumph,
there is great rejoicing,#28:12 Lit glory
but when the wicked come to power,
people hide.#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
17Someone burdened by bloodguilt#28:17 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#28:18 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 person 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 even a courageous person may sin for a piece of bread.#Ezk 13:19
22A greedy one#28:22 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 with his tongue.#Pr 26:28; 29:5
24The one who robs his father or mother#Pr 19:26
and says, “That’s no sin,”#Pr 30:20; Mk 7:11
is a companion to a person who destroys.#Pr 18:9
25A greedy person stirs up 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#28:26 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#28:27 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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© 2017 Holman Bible Publishers
Proverbs 28
28
1 THE WICKED flee when no man pursues them, but the [uncompromisingly] righteous are bold as a lion. [Lev. 26:17, 36; Ps. 53:5.]
2 When a land transgresses, it has many rulers, but when the ruler is a man of discernment, understanding, and knowledge, its stability will long continue.
3 A poor man who oppresses the poor is like a sweeping rain which leaves no food [plundering them of their last morsels]. [Matt. 18:28.]
4 Those who forsake the law [of God and man] praise the wicked, but those who keep the law [of God and man] contend with them. [Prov. 29:18.]
5 Evil men do not understand justice, but they who crave and seek the Lord understand it fully. [John 7:17; I Cor. 2:15; I John 2:20, 27.]
6 Better is the poor man who walks in his integrity than he who willfully goes in double and wrong ways, though he is rich.
7 Whoever keeps the law [of God and man] is a wise son, but he who is a companion of gluttons and the carousing, self-indulgent, and extravagant shames his father.
8 He who by charging excessive interest and who by unjust efforts to get gain increases his material possession gathers it for him [to spend] who is kind and generous to the poor. [Job 27:16, 17; Prov. 13:22; Eccl. 2:26.]
9 He who turns away his ear from hearing the law [of God and man], even his prayer is an abomination, hateful and revolting [to God]. [Ps. 66:18; 109:7; Prov. 15:8; Zech. 7:11.]
10 Whoever leads the upright astray into an evil way, he will himself fall into his own pit, but the blameless will have a goodly inheritance.
11 The rich man is wise in his own eyes and conceit, but the poor man who has understanding will find him out.
12 When the [uncompromisingly] righteous triumph, there is great glory and celebration; but when the wicked rise [to power], men hide themselves.
13 He who covers his transgressions will not prosper, but whoever confesses and forsakes his sins will obtain mercy. [Ps. 32:3, 5; I John 1:8-10.]
14 Blessed (happy, fortunate, and to be envied) is the man who reverently and worshipfully fears [the Lord] at all times [regardless of circumstances], but he who hardens his heart will fall into calamity.
15 Like a roaring lion or a ravenous and charging bear is a wicked ruler over a poor people.
16 A ruler who lacks understanding is [like a wicked one] a great oppressor, but he who hates covetousness and unjust gain shall prolong his days.
17 If a man willfully sheds the blood of a person [and keeps the guilt of murder upon his conscience], he is fleeing to the pit (the grave) and hastening to his own destruction; let no man stop him!
18 He who walks uprightly shall be safe, but he who willfully goes in double and wrong ways shall fall in one of them.
19 He who cultivates his land will have plenty of bread, but he who follows worthless people and pursuits will have poverty enough.
20 A faithful man shall abound with blessings, but he who makes haste to be rich [at any cost] shall not go unpunished. [Prov. 13:11; 20:21; 23:4; I Tim. 6:9.]
21 To have respect of persons and to show partiality is not good, neither is it good that man should transgress for a piece of bread.
22 He who has an evil and covetous eye hastens to be rich and knows not that want will come upon him. [Prov. 21:5; 28:20.]
23 He who rebukes a man shall afterward find more favor than he who flatters with the tongue.
24 Whoever robs his father or his mother and says, This is no sin–he is in the same class as [an open, lawless robber and] a destroyer.
25 He who is of a greedy spirit stirs up strife, but he who puts his trust in the Lord shall be enriched and blessed.
26 He who leans on, trusts in, and is confident of his own mind and heart is a [self-confident] fool, but he who walks in skillful and godly Wisdom shall be delivered. [James 1:5.]
27 He who gives to the poor will not want, but he who hides his eyes [from their want] will have many a curse. [Deut. 15:7; Prov. 19:17; 22:9.]
28 When the wicked rise [to power], men hide themselves; but when they perish, the [consistently] righteous increase and become many. [Prov. 28:12.]
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