Proverbs 28
28
1The wicked man fleeth, when no man pursueth: but the just, bold as a lion, shall be without dread.
2For the sine of the land many are the princes thereof: and for the wisdom of a man, and the knowledge of those things that are said, the life of the prince shall be prolonged.
3A poor man that oppresseth the poor, is like a violent shower, which bringeth a famine.
4They that forsake the law, praise the wicked man: they that keep it, are incensed against him.
5Evil men think not on judgment: but they that seek after the Lord, take notice of all things.
6Better is the poor man walking in his simplicity, than the rich in crooked ways.
7He that keepeth the law is a wise son: but he that feedeth gluttons, shameth his father.
8He that heapeth together riches by usury and loan, gathereth them for him that will be bountiful to the poor.
9He that turneth away his ears from hearing the law, his prayer shall be as abomination.
10He that deceiveth the just in a wicked way, shall fall in his own destruction: and the upright shall possess his goods.
11The rich man seemeth to himself wise: but the poor man that is prudent shall search him out.
12In the joy of the just there is great glory: when the wicked reign, men are ruined.
13He that hideth his sins, shall not prosper: but he that shall confess, and forsake them, shall obtain mercy.
14Blessed is the man that is always fearful: but he that is hardened in mind, shall fall into evil.
15As a roaring lion, and a hungry bear, so is a wicked prince over the poor people.
16A prince void of prudence shall oppress many by calumny: but he that hateth covetousness, shall prolong his days.
17A man that doth violence to the blood of a person, if he flee even to the pit, no man will stay him.
18He that walketh uprightly, shall be saved: he that is perverse in his ways shall fall at once.
19He that tilleth his ground, shall be filled with bread: but he that followeth idleness shall be filled with poverty.
20A faithful man shall be much praised: but he that maketh haste to be rich, shall not be innocent.
21He that hath respect to a person in judgment, doth not well: such a man even for a morsel of bread forsaketh the truth.
22A man, that maketh haste to be rich, and envieth others, is ignorant that poverty shall come upon him.
23He that rebuketh a man, shall afterward find favour with him, more than he that by a flattering tongue deceiveth him.
24He that stealeth any thing from his father, or from his mother: and saith, This is no sin, is the partner of a murderer.
25He that boasteth, and puffeth up himself, stirreth up quarrels: but he that trusteth in the Lord, shall be healed.
26He that trusteth in his own heart, is a fool: but he that walketh wisely, he shall be saved.
27He that giveth to the poor, shall not want: he that despiseth his entreaty, shall suffer indigence.
28When the wicked rise up, men shall hide themselves: when they perish, the lust shall be multiplied.
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An historical text maintained by the British and Foreign Bible Society.
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.