Proverbs 28
28
Lovers of God
1Guilty criminals experience paranoia
even though no one threatens them.
But the innocent lovers of God,
because of righteousness,
will have the boldness # 28:1 Or “confidence.” of a young, ferocious lion!
2A rebellious nation is thrown into chaos, # 28:2 Or “A rebellious nation will have one leader after another.”
but leaders anointed with wisdom will restore law and order.
3When a pauper # 28:3 This pauper can also be one who is spiritually poor. Some Jewish expositors believe it refers to corrupt judges. oppresses the destitute,
it’s like a flash flood that sweeps away their last hope.
4Those who turn their backs on what they know is right # 28:4 The Hebrew word is “the Torah.” See vv. 7, 9.
will no longer be able to tell right from wrong.
But those who love the truth strengthen their souls. # 28:4 As translated from the Aramaic. The Septuagint is “build a wall to protect themselves.”
5Justice never makes sense to men devoted to darkness,
but those tenderly devoted to the Lord
can understand justice perfectly.
6It’s more respectable to be poor and pure than rich and perverse.
7To be obedient to what you’ve been taught # 28:7 Or “the Torah.”
proves you’re an honorable child,
but to socialize with the lawless brings shame to your parents.
8Go ahead and get rich on the backs of the poor,
but all the wealth you gather will one day be given
to those who are kind to the needy.
9If you close your heart and refuse to listen to God’s instruction, # 28:9 Or “the Torah.”
even your prayer will be despised.
10Those who tempt the lovers of God with an evil scheme
will fall into their own traps.
But the innocent who resist temptation will experience reward.
11The wealthy in their conceit presume to be wise,
but a poor person with discernment can see right through them.
12The triumphant joy of God’s lovers releases great glory. # 28:12 As translated from the Aramaic.
But when the wicked rise to power, everyone goes into hiding. # 28:12 Or “people become victims.”
13If you cover up your sin you’ll never do well.
But if you confess your sins and forsake them,
you will be kissed by mercy.
14Overjoyed is the one who with tender heart trembles before God,
but the stubborn, unyielding heart will experience even greater evil.
15Ruthless rulers can only be compared
to raging lions and roaming bears. # 28:15 David, before he killed Goliath, went after the lion and the bear. See 1 Sam. 17:34–37. These beasts represented demonic forces of evil over the land. Daniel also mentions the world’s ruthless leaders as lions and bears. See Dan. 7:1–8.
16Abusive leaders fail to employ wisdom,
but leaders who despise corruption # 28:16 Or “injustice.”
will enjoy a long and full life. # 28:16 Or “enjoy a long reign.”
17A murderer’s conscience will torment him—
a fugitive haunted by guilt all the way to the grave
with no one to support him.
18The pure will be rescued from failure,
but the perverse will suddenly fall into ruin.
19Work hard and you’ll have all you desire,
but chase a fantasy # 28:19 Or “an empty dream.” The Septuagint is “the one who pursues leisure.” and you could end up with nothing.
20Life’s blessings drench the honest and faithful person,
but punishment rains down upon the greedy and dishonest.
21Giving favoritism to the rich and powerful is disgusting,
and this is done by the type of judge who would betray a man for a bribe. # 28:21 As translated from the Aramaic.
22A greedy man # 28:22 Both the Aramaic and Hebrew have “The man with an evil eye.” This is a figure of speech for a stingy or greedy man. A person who shuts his heart to the poor is said to have an evil eye. A person with a good eye is someone who looks on the poor with generosity. is in a race to get rich,
but he forgets that he could lose what’s most important
and end up with nothing. # 28:22 As translated from the Aramaic. The Aramaic text sounds very similar to what Jesus says about gaining the world but losing our souls. See Mark 8:36.
23If you correct someone with constructive criticism,
in the end he will appreciate it more than flattery.
24A person who would reject his own parents # 28:24 As translated from the Septuagint. The Hebrew is “the one who steals from his own parents.” and say,
“What’s wrong with that?” is as bad as a murderer.
25To make rash, hasty decisions
shows that you are not trusting the Lord.
But when you rely totally on God,
you will still act carefully and prudently. # 28:25 As translated from the Septuagint. The Hebrew is “The greedy person stirs up trouble, but the one who trusts in the Lord will prosper.”
26Self-confident know-it-alls # 28:26 Or “those who trust their instincts.” will prove to be fools.
But when you lean on the wisdom from above,
you will have a way to escape the troubles of your own making.
27You will never go without if you give to the poor.
But if you’re heartless, stingy, and selfish, # 28:27 Or “if you hide your eyes from the poor.”
you invite curses upon yourself.
28When wicked leaders rise to power,
good people go into hiding.
But when they fall from power,
the godly take their place.
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Proverbs 28: TPT
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Learn More About The Passion TranslationProverbs 28
28
1The wicked have fled and there is no pursuer. And the righteous as a young lion is confident.
2By the transgression of a land many [are] its heads. And by an intelligent man, Who knoweth right — it is prolonged.
3A man — poor and oppressing the weak, [Is] a sweeping rain, and there is no bread.
4Those forsaking the law praise the wicked, Those keeping the law plead against them.
5Evil men understand not judgment, And those seeking Jehovah understand all.
6Better [is] the poor walking in his integrity, Than the perverse of ways who is rich.
7Whoso is keeping the law is an intelligent son, And a friend of gluttons, Doth cause his father to blush.
8Whoso is multiplying his wealth by biting and usury, For one favouring the poor doth gather it.
9Whoso is turning his ear from hearing the law, Even his prayer [is] an abomination.
10Whoso is causing the upright to err in an evil way, Into his own pit he doth fall, And the perfect do inherit good.
11A rich man is wise in his own eyes, And the intelligent poor searcheth him.
12In the exulting of the righteous the glory [is] abundant, And in the rising of the wicked man is apprehensive.
13Whoso is covering his transgressions prospereth not, And he who is confessing and forsaking hath mercy.
14O the happiness of a man fearing continually, And whoso is hardening his heart falleth into evil.
15A growling lion, and a ranging bear, [Is] the wicked ruler over a poor people.
16A leader lacking understanding multiplieth oppressions, Whoso is hating dishonest gain prolongeth days.
17A man oppressed with the blood of a soul, Unto the pit fleeth, none taketh hold on him.
18Whoso is walking uprightly is saved, And the perverted of ways falleth at once.
19Whoso is tilling his ground is satisfied [with] bread, And whoso is pursuing vanity, Is filled [with] poverty.
20A stedfast man hath multiplied blessings, And whoso is hasting to be rich is not acquitted.
21To discern faces is not good, And for a piece of bread doth a man transgress.
22Troubled for wealth [is] the man [with] an evil eye, And he knoweth not that want doth meet him.
23Whoso is reproving a man afterwards findeth grace, More than a flatterer with the tongue.
24Whoso is robbing his father, or his mother, And is saying, ‘It is not transgression,’ A companion he is to a destroyer.
25Whoso is proud in soul stirreth up contention, And whoso is trusting on Jehovah is made fat.
26Whoso is trusting in his heart is a fool, And whoso is walking in wisdom is delivered.
27Whoso is giving to the poor hath no lack, And whoso is hiding his eyes multiplied curses.
28In the rising of the wicked a man is hidden, And in their destruction the righteous multiply!
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