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
1Evil people run even though no one is chasing them.
But good people are as brave as a lion.
2When a country is disobedient, it has one ruler after another.
But when it is led by a man with understanding and knowledge, it continues strong.
3Rulers who are cruel to the poor
are like a hard rain that destroys the crops.
4People who disobey what they have been taught praise the wicked.
But those who obey what they have been taught are against the wicked.
5Evil people do not understand fairness.
But those who follow the Lord understand it completely.
6It is better to be poor and innocent
than to be rich and wicked.
7The son who obeys what he has been taught
shows he is wise.
But the son who makes friends with those who have no self-control
disgraces his father.
8Some people get rich by overcharging others.
But their wealth will be given to those who are kind to the poor.
9If you refuse to obey what you have been taught,
your prayers will not be heard.
10Those who lead honest people to do wrong
will be ruined by their own evil.
But the innocent will be rewarded with good things.
11A rich man may think he is wise.
But a poor man who has understanding knows the rich man is wrong.
12When good people win, there is great happiness.
But when the wicked get power, everybody hides.
13If you hide your sins, you will not succeed.
If you confess and reject them, you will receive mercy.
14Those who always respect the Lord will be happy.
But those who are stubborn will get into trouble.
15A wicked ruler is as dangerous to poor people
as a roaring lion or a charging bear.
16A ruler who is cruel does not have wisdom.
But the one who hates money taken dishonestly will live a long time.
17A man who is guilty of murder
will run until he dies.
So do not stop him.
18Innocent people will be kept safe.
But those who are dishonest will suddenly be ruined.
19The person who works his land will have plenty of food.
But the one who chases useless dreams instead will end up very poor.
20A truthful man will have many blessings.
But those eager to get rich will be punished.
21It is not good for a judge to take sides.
But some will sin for just a piece of bread.
22A selfish person is in a hurry to get rich.
He does not realize his selfishness will make him poor.
23Those who correct others will later be liked
more than those who give false praise.
24Some people rob their fathers or mothers
and say, “It’s not wrong.”
Such people are just like those who destroy things.
25A greedy person causes trouble.
But the one who trusts the Lord will succeed.
26The person who trusts in himself is foolish.
But the person who lives wisely will be kept safe.
27The person who gives to the poor will have everything he needs.
But the one who ignores the poor will have many curses put on him.
28When the wicked get power, everybody hides.
But when the wicked die, the good people do well.
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Copyright © 2015 by Tommy Nelson™, a Division of Thomas Nelson, Inc. All rights reserved. Used by permission.