Proverbs 28
28
1The wicked flee though none pursue;
but the just, like a lion, are confident.
2If a land is rebellious, its princes will be many;
but with an intelligent and wise ruler there is stability.#The first line expresses the paradox that rebellion, far from doing away with rulers, actually multiplies them. The second line is corrupt.
3One who is poor and extorts from the lowly
is a devastating rain that leaves no food.#The reference may be to tax farmers who collected taxes and took a commission. The collectors’ lack of wealth was the cause of their oppression of poor farmers. They are like a rain too violent to allow crops to grow.
4Those who abandon instruction#Instruction: torah; the word is used both for the teaching of the wise and the law of Moses. praise the wicked,
but those who keep instruction oppose them.
5The evil understand nothing of justice,#Understanding nothing of justice plays on the twofold sense of justice as righteousness and as punishment that comes on the wicked. On the other hand, those who seek the Lord understand everything, i.e., that the Lord punishes the wicked and rewards the righteous (themselves).
but those who seek the Lord understand everything.
6Better to be poor and walk in integrity
than rich and crooked in one’s ways.#Prv 19:1.
7Whoever heeds instruction is a wise son,
but whoever joins with wastrels disgraces his father.
8Whoever amasses wealth by interest and overcharge#Interest and overcharge were strictly forbidden in the old law among Israelites because it was presumed that the borrower was in distress; cf. Ex 22:25; Lv 25:35–37; Dt 23:20; Ps 15:5; Ez 18:8. Divine providence will take the offender’s wealth; cf. Eccl 2:26.
gathers it for the one who is kind to the poor.
9Those who turn their ears from hearing instruction,#Prv 15:8; 21:27.
even their prayer is an abomination.
10Those who mislead the upright into an evil way
will themselves fall into their own pit,
but the blameless will attain prosperity.
11The rich are wise in their own eyes,
but the poor who are intelligent see through them.
12When the just triumph, there is great glory;
but when the wicked prevail, people hide.#People react in opposite ways to the triumph of good and evil. To the triumph of good, they react by public display, public celebration, and to the triumph of evil, by hiding.
13Those who conceal their sins do not prosper,
but those who confess and forsake them obtain mercy.#Concealing the faults of another is a good thing in Proverbs (17:9), but concealing one’s own sins is not. Ps 32:1–5 expresses the anguish caused by concealing one’s sins rather than bringing them to light so they can be healed by God.
14Happy those who always fear;#Fear is a different verb than in the phrase “to fear (or revere) the Lord.” In its only other biblical occurrence (Is 51:13), the verb means to dread an oppressor. The saying states a paradox: those who fear in the sense of being cautious are declared happy, whereas those who are fearless will fall into traps they did not “fear.” In short, there is good fear and bad fear.
but those who harden their hearts fall into evil.
15A roaring lion or a ravenous bear
is a wicked ruler over a poor people.
16The less prudent the rulers, the more oppressive their deeds.
Those who hate ill-gotten gain prolong their days.
17Though a person burdened with blood guilt is in flight even to the grave,
let no one offer support.
18Whoever walks blamelessly is safe,
but one whose ways are crooked falls into a pit.
19Those who cultivate their land will have plenty of food,
but those who engage in idle pursuits will have plenty of want.#Prv 12:11.
20The trustworthy will be richly blessed;
but whoever hastens to be rich will not go unpunished.#Prv 13:11.
21To show partiality is never good:#Prv 24:23.
for even a morsel of bread one may do wrong.#Cf. 24:23. Verse 21b warns that even in a light matter one must remain impartial.
22Misers hurry toward wealth,
not knowing that want is coming toward them.#“Bad of eye” is the Hebrew idiom for miserly. Misers fail to see that poverty is hurrying toward them because of their wrong attitude toward wealth. Because misers are “bad of eye,” they do not see the danger.
23Whoever rebukes another wins more favor
than one who flatters with the tongue.
24Whoever defrauds father or mother and says, “It is no sin,”#Mk 7:11–13.
is a partner to a brigand.
25The greedy person stirs up strife,
but the one who trusts in the Lord will prosper.
26Those who trust in themselves are fools,
but those who walk in wisdom are safe.
27Those who give to the poor have no lack,#Prv 19:17; Sir 4:3–8.
but those who avert their eyes, many curses.
28When the wicked prevail, people hide;
but at their fall the just abound.#Prv 28:12.
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Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Inc
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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