Mishlĕ (Proverbs) 28
28
1The wrong shall flee though no one pursues, But the righteous are as bold as a lion.
2Because of transgression of a land, Many are its rulers; But by a man of understanding and knowledge, Right is maintained.
3A poor man who oppresses the poor Is like a sweeping rain that leaves no food.
4Those who forsake the Torah praise the wrong, Those who guard the Torah strive with them.
5Evil men do not understand right-ruling, But those who seek יהוה understand all.
6Better is the poor who walks in his integrity Than one perverse in his ways, who is rich.
7He who watches over the Torah is a discerning son, But a companion of gluttons shames his father.
8He who increases his possessions by interest and profit Gathers it for him who shows favour to the poor.
9He who turns away his ear from hearing the Torah, Even his prayer is an abomination.#See Pro. 15:29; Isa. 59:1, 2; John 9:31; 1John 3:22
10He who causes the straight to go astray in an evil way, Falls into his own pit; But the perfect inherit the good.
11A rich man is wise in his own eyes, But the poor who has understanding searches him out.
12When the righteous exult, there is great comeliness; But when the wrong arise, a man is searched for.
13He who hides his transgressions does not prosper, But he who confesses and forsakes them finds compassion.
14Blessed is the man who always fears Elohim, But he who hardens his heart falls into evil.
15A roaring lion and a charging bear Is a wrongdoing ruler over poor people.
16A leader who lacks understanding is a great oppressor, But the hater of greed prolongs his days.
17A man oppressed by blood-guilt flees into a pit; Let no one help him.
18He who walks blamelessly is saved, But the perverted of ways falls at once.
19He who tills his land is satisfied with bread, But he who pursues vanities is filled with poverty.
20A man of truth has many blessings, But one in a hurry to be rich does not go unpunished.
21To show partiality is not good, Because for a piece of bread a man would transgress.
22A man with an evil eye runs after wealth, And does not know that poverty awaits him.
23He who reproves a man finds more favour afterward Than he who flatters with the tongue.
24He who robs his father or his mother, And says, “It is no transgression,” He is a companion to a destroyer.
25He who is greedy stirs up strife, But he who trusts in יהוה prospers.
26He who trusts in his own heart is a fool, But he who walks wisely is delivered.
27He who gives to the poor does not lack, But he who hides his eyes does have many curses.
28When the wrong rise up, men hide themselves; But when they perish, the righteous increase.
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Mishlĕ (Proverbs) 28: TS2009
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Copyright© 1993 – 2015 by the Institute for Scripture Research (ISR). All rights reserved.
Proverbs 28
28
If You Desert God’s Law
1The wicked are edgy with guilt, ready to run off
even when no one’s after them;
Honest people are relaxed and confident,
bold as lions.
2When the country is in chaos,
everybody has a plan to fix it—
But it takes a leader of real understanding
to straighten things out.
3The wicked who oppress the poor
are like a hailstorm that beats down the harvest.
4If you desert God’s law, you’re free to embrace depravity;
if you love God’s law, you fight for it tooth and nail.
5Justice makes no sense to the evilminded;
those who seek God know it inside and out.
6It’s better to be poor and direct
than rich and crooked.
7Practice God’s law—get a reputation for wisdom;
hang out with a loose crowd—embarrass your family.
8Get as rich as you want
through cheating and extortion,
But eventually some friend of the poor
is going to give it all back to them.
9God has no use for the prayers
of the people who won’t listen to him.
10Lead good people down a wrong path
and you’ll come to a bad end;
do good and you’ll be rewarded for it.
11The rich think they know it all,
but the poor can see right through them.
12When good people are promoted, everything is great,
but when the bad are in charge, watch out!
13You can’t whitewash your sins and get by with it;
you find mercy by admitting and leaving them.
14A tenderhearted person lives a blessed life;
a hardhearted person lives a hard life.
15Lions roar and bears charge—
and the wicked lord it over the poor.
16Among leaders who lack insight, abuse abounds,
but for one who hates corruption, the future is bright.
17A murderer haunted by guilt
is doomed—there’s no helping him.
18Walk straight—live well and be saved;
a devious life is a doomed life.
Doing Great Harm in Seemingly Harmless Ways
19Work your garden—you’ll end up with plenty of food;
play and party—you’ll end up with an empty plate.
20Committed and persistent work pays off;
get-rich-quick schemes are ripoffs.
21Playing favorites is always a bad thing;
you can do great harm in seemingly harmless ways.
22A miser in a hurry to get rich
doesn’t know that he’ll end up broke.
23In the end, serious reprimand is appreciated
far more than bootlicking flattery.
24Anyone who robs father and mother
and says, “So, what’s wrong with that?”
is worse than a pirate.
25A grasping person stirs up trouble,
but trust in God brings a sense of well-being.
26If you think you know it all, you’re a fool for sure;
real survivors learn wisdom from others.
27Be generous to the poor—you’ll never go hungry;
shut your eyes to their needs, and run a gauntlet of curses.
28When corruption takes over, good people go underground,
but when the crooks are thrown out, it’s safe to come out.
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THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language copyright © 1993, 2002, 2018 by Eugene H. Peterson. All rights reserved. Used by permission of NavPress. Represented by Tyndale House Publishers.