Proverbs 28
28
1The wicked are afraid of everything, but those who live right are as brave as lions.
2A lawless nation will have many bad leaders. But a smart leader will rule for a long time in a land where people obey the law.
3A leader who takes advantage of the poor is like a hard rain that destroys the crops.#28:3 Or “A poor person who takes advantage of beggars is like a hard rain and no food.”
4Those who refuse to obey the law promote evil. Those who obey the law oppose evil.
5The wicked don’t understand justice, but those who love the Lord understand it completely.
6It is better to be poor and honest than rich and evil.
7A smart son obeys the laws, but a son who spends time with worthless people brings shame to his father.
8If you get rich by charging high interest rates, your wealth will go to someone who is kind to the poor.
9When people do not listen to God’s teachings, he does not listen to their prayers.
10Those who plan to hurt good people will fall into their own traps, but good things will happen to those who are good.
11The rich always think they are wise, but a poor person who is wise can see the truth.
12When good people become leaders, everything is great, but when the wicked rise to power, everyone hides.
13Whoever hides their sins will not be successful, but whoever confesses their sins and stops doing wrong will receive mercy.
14People who respect others will be blessed, but stubborn people will have plenty of troubles.
15An evil ruler over those who are helpless is like an angry lion or a charging bear.
16A foolish ruler hurts the people under him, but a ruler who hates wrong will rule for a long time.
17A murderer will never have peace. Don’t support such a person.
18Honest people will be safe, but dishonest people will be ruined.
19Whoever works hard will have plenty to eat, but whoever wastes their time with dreams will always be poor.
20People who can be trusted will have many blessings, but those who are just trying to get rich in a hurry will be punished.
21It is wrong for a judge to support someone simply because he knows them. But some judges will change their decisions for the price of a loaf of bread.
22Selfish people only want to get rich. They do not realize that they are very close to being poor.
23Correct someone, and later they will thank you. That is much better than just saying something to be nice.
24Someone might steal from their parents and say, “I did nothing wrong.” But that person is as bad as an enemy who smashes everything in the house.
25Greedy people might sue you in court, but those who trust the Lord are rewarded.
26It is foolish to be too confident. Those who ask for advice are wise and will escape disaster.
27Whoever gives to the poor will have plenty. Whoever refuses to help them will get nothing but curses.
28When the wicked rise to power, everyone hides. When they are defeated, good people multiply.
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© 1987, 2004 Bible League International
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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