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
1The wicked flee when no man pursueth;
But the righteous are bold as a lion.
2For the transgression of a land many are the princes thereof;
But by men of understanding and knowledge the state thereof shall be prolonged.
3A needy man that oppresseth the poor
Is like a sweeping rain which leaveth no food.
4They that forsake the law praise the wicked;
But such as keep the law contend with them.
5Evil men understand not justice;
But they that seek Jehovah understand all things.
6Better is the poor that walketh in his integrity,
Than he that is perverse in his ways, though he be rich.
7Whoso keepeth the law is a wise son;
But he that is a companion of gluttons shameth his father.
8He that augmenteth his substance by interest and increase,
Gathereth it for him that hath pity on the poor.
9He that turneth away his ear from hearing the law,
Even his prayer is an abomination.
10Whoso causeth the upright to go astray in an evil way,
He shall fall himself into his own pit;
But the perfect shall inherit good.
11The rich man is wise in his own conceit;
But the poor that hath understanding searcheth him out.
12When the righteous triumph, there is great glory;
But when the wicked rise, men hide themselves.
13He that covereth his transgressions shall not prosper;
But whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall obtain mercy.
14Happy is the man that feareth alway;
But he that hardeneth his heart shall fall into mischief.
15 As a roaring lion, and a ranging bear,
So is a wicked ruler over a poor people.
16The prince that lacketh understanding is also a great oppressor;
But he that hateth covetousness shall prolong his days.
17A man that is laden with the blood of any person
Shall flee unto the pit; let no man stay him.
18Whoso walketh uprightly shall be delivered;
But he that is perverse in his ways shall fall at once.
19He that tilleth his land shall have plenty of bread;
But he that followeth after vain persons shall have poverty enough.
20A faithful man shall abound with blessings;
But he that maketh haste to be rich shall not be unpunished.
21To have respect of persons is not good;
Neither that a man should transgress for a piece of bread.
22He that hath an evil eye hasteth after riches,
And knoweth not that want shall come upon him.
23He that rebuketh a man shall afterward find more favor
Than he that flattereth with the tongue.
24Whoso robbeth his father or his mother, and saith, It is no transgression,
The same is the companion of a destroyer.
25He that is of a greedy spirit stirreth up strife;
But he that putteth his trust in Jehovah shall be made fat.
26He that trusteth in his own heart is a fool;
But whoso walketh wisely, he shall be delivered.
27He that giveth unto the poor shall not lack;
But he that hideth his eyes shall have many a curse.
28When the wicked rise, men hide themselves;
But when they perish, the righteous increase.
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