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.
Proverbs 28
28
Warnings and Instructions
1The wicked flee when no one pursues them,
But the righteous are as bold as a lion. [Lev 26:17, 36; Ps 53:5]
2When a land does wrong, it has many princes,
But when the ruler is a man of understanding and knowledge, its stability endures.
3A poor man who oppresses and exploits the lowly
Is like a sweeping rain which leaves no food. [Matt 18:28]
4Those who #28:4 Lit forsake.set aside the law [of God and man] praise the wicked,
But those who keep the law [of God and man] struggle with them. [Prov 29:18]
5Evil men do not understand justice,
But they who long for and seek the Lord understand it fully. [John 7:17; 1 Cor 2:15; 1 John 2:20, 27]
6Better is the poor who walks in his integrity
Than he who is crooked and two-faced though he is rich. [Prov 19:1]
7He who keeps the law [of God and man] is a wise and discerning son,
But he who is a companion of gluttons humiliates his father [and himself].
8He who increases his wealth by interest and usury (excessive interest)
Gathers it for him who is gracious to the poor. [Job 27:16, 17; Prov 13:22; Eccl 2:26]
9He who turns his ear away from listening to the law [of God and man],
Even his prayer is repulsive [to God]. [Ps 66:18; 109:7; Prov 15:8; Zech 7:11]
10He who leads the upright astray on an evil path
Will himself fall into his own pit,
But the blameless will inherit good.
11The rich man [who is conceited and relies on his wealth instead of God] is wise in his own eyes,
But the poor man who has understanding [because he relies on God] is able to see through him.
12When the righteous triumph, there is great glory and celebration;
But when the wicked rise [to prominence], men hide themselves.
13He who conceals his transgressions will not prosper,
But whoever confesses and #28:13 Lit forsakes.turns away from his sins will find compassion and mercy. [Ps 32:3, 5; 1 John 1:8-10]
14Blessed and favored by God is the man who fears [sin and its consequence] at all times,
But he who hardens his heart [and is determined to sin] will fall into disaster.
15Like a roaring lion and a charging bear
Is a wicked ruler over a poor people.
16A leader who is a great oppressor lacks understanding and common sense [and his wickedness shortens his days],
But he who hates unjust gain will [be blessed and] prolong his days.
17A man who is burdened with the guilt of human blood (murder)
Will be a fugitive until death; let no one support him or give him refuge.
18He who walks blamelessly and uprightly will be kept safe,
But he who is crooked (perverse) will suddenly fall.
19He who cultivates his land will have plenty of bread,
But he who follows worthless people and frivolous pursuits will have plenty of poverty.
20A faithful (right-minded) man will abound with blessings,
But he who hurries to be rich will not go unpunished. [Prov 13:11; 20:21; 23:4; 1 Tim 6:9]
21To have regard for one person over another and to show favoritism is not good,
Because for a piece of bread a man will transgress.
22He who has an evil and envious eye hurries to be rich
And does not know that poverty will come upon him. [Prov 21:5; 28:20]
23He who [appropriately] reprimands a [wise] man will afterward find more favor
Than he who flatters with the tongue.
24He who robs his father or his mother
And says, “This is no sin,”
Is [not only a thief but also] the companion of a man who destroys.
25An arrogant and greedy man stirs up strife,
But he who trusts in the Lord will be blessed and prosper.
26He who trusts confidently in his own heart is a [dull, thickheaded] fool,
But he who walks in [skillful and godly] wisdom will be rescued. [James 1:5]
27He who gives to the poor will never want,
But he who shuts his eyes [from their need] will have many curses. [Deut 15:7; Prov 19:17; 22:9]
28When the wicked rise [to power], men hide themselves;
But when the wicked perish, the [consistently] righteous increase and become great. [Prov 28:12]
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