Proverbs 28
28
The Law of God Makes Sense
1Wicked people run away
when no one chases them,
but those who live right
are as brave as lions.
2In time of civil war
there are many leaders,
but a sensible leader
restores law and order.#28.2 but … order: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text.
3When someone poor takes over
and mistreats the poor,
it's like a heavy rain
destroying the crops.
4Lawbreakers praise criminals,
but law-abiding citizens
always oppose them.
5Criminals don't know
what justice means,
but all who respect the Lord
understand it completely.
6It's better to be poor
and live right,
than to be rich
and dishonest.
7It makes good sense
to obey the Law of God,
but you disgrace your parents
if you make friends
with worthless nobodies.
8If you make money by charging
high interest rates,
you will lose it all to someone
who cares for the poor.
9God cannot stand the prayers
of anyone who disobeys
his Law.
10By leading good people to sin,
you dig a pit for yourself,
but all who live right
will have a bright future.
11The rich think highly
of themselves,
but anyone poor and sensible
sees right through them.
12When an honest person wins,
it's time to celebrate;
when crooks are in control,
it's best to hide.
13If you don't confess your sins,
you will be a failure.
But God will be merciful
if you confess your sins
and give them up.
14The Lord blesses everyone
who is afraid to do evil,
but if you are cruel,
you will end up in trouble.
15A ruler who mistreats the poor
is like a roaring lion
or a bear hunting for food.
16A heartless leader is a fool,
but anyone who refuses
to get rich by cheating others
will live a long time.
17Don't give help to murderers!
Make them stay on the run
for as long as they live.#28.17 live: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text of verse 17.
18Honesty will keep you safe,
but everyone who is crooked
will suddenly fall.
19Work hard, and you will have
a lot of food;
waste time, and you will have
a lot of trouble.
20God blesses his loyal people,
but punishes all who want
to get rich quick.
21It isn't right to be unfair,
but some people can be bribed
with only a piece of bread.
22Don't be selfish
and eager to get rich—
you will end up worse off
than you can imagine.
23Honest correction
is appreciated
more than flattery.
24If you cheat your parents
and don't think it's wrong,
you are a common thief.
25Selfish people cause trouble,
but you will live a full life
if you trust the Lord.
26Only fools would trust
what they alone think,
but if you live by wisdom,
you will do all right.
27Giving to the poor
will keep you from poverty,
but if you close your eyes
to their needs,
everyone will curse you.
28When crooks are in control,
everyone tries to hide,
but when they lose power,
good people are everywhere.
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Proverbs 28: CEV
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Contemporary English Version, Second Edition (CEV®)
© 2006 American Bible Society. All rights reserved.
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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