Proverbs 28:9-20 - Compare All Versions

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If anyone turns a deaf ear to my instruction, even their prayers are detestable. Whoever leads the upright along an evil path will fall into their own trap, but the blameless will receive a good inheritance. The rich are wise in their own eyes; one who is poor and discerning sees how deluded they are. When the righteous triumph, there is great elation; but when the wicked rise to power, people go into hiding. Whoever conceals their sins does not prosper, but the one who confesses and renounces them finds mercy. Blessed is the one who always trembles before God, but whoever hardens their heart falls into trouble. Like a roaring lion or a charging bear is a wicked ruler over a helpless people. A tyrannical ruler practices extortion, but one who hates ill-gotten gain will enjoy a long reign. Anyone tormented by the guilt of murder will seek refuge in the grave; let no one hold them back. The one whose walk is blameless is kept safe, but the one whose ways are perverse will fall into the pit. Those who work their land will have abundant food, but those who chase fantasies will have their fill of poverty. A faithful person will be richly blessed, but one eager to get rich will not go unpunished.

If one turns away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer is an abomination. Whoever misleads the upright into an evil way will fall into his own pit, but the blameless will have a goodly inheritance. A rich man is wise in his own eyes, but a poor man who has understanding will find him out. When the righteous triumph, there is great glory, but when the wicked rise, people hide themselves. Whoever conceals his transgressions will not prosper, but he who confesses and forsakes them will obtain mercy. Blessed is the one who fears the LORD always, but whoever hardens his heart will fall into calamity. Like a roaring lion or a charging bear is a wicked ruler over a poor people. A ruler who lacks understanding is a cruel oppressor, but he who hates unjust gain will prolong his days. If one is burdened with the blood of another, he will be a fugitive until death; let no one help him. Whoever walks in integrity will be delivered, but he who is crooked in his ways will suddenly fall. Whoever works his land will have plenty of bread, but he who follows worthless pursuits will have plenty of poverty. A faithful man will abound with blessings, but whoever hastens to be rich will not go unpunished.

God detests the prayers of a person who ignores the law. Those who lead good people along an evil path will fall into their own trap, but the honest will inherit good things. Rich people may think they are wise, but a poor person with discernment can see right through them. When the godly succeed, everyone is glad. When the wicked take charge, people go into hiding. People who conceal their sins will not prosper, but if they confess and turn from them, they will receive mercy. Blessed are those who fear to do wrong, but the stubborn are headed for serious trouble. A wicked ruler is as dangerous to the poor as a roaring lion or an attacking bear. A ruler with no understanding will oppress his people, but one who hates corruption will have a long life. A murderer’s tormented conscience will drive him into the grave. Don’t protect him! The blameless will be rescued from harm, but the crooked will be suddenly destroyed. A hard worker has plenty of food, but a person who chases fantasies ends up in poverty. The trustworthy person will get a rich reward, but a person who wants quick riches will get into trouble.

Anyone who turns his ear away from hearing the law — even his prayer is detestable.  The one who leads the upright into an evil way will fall into his own pit,  but the blameless will inherit what is good.  A rich person is wise in his own eyes, but a poor one who has discernment sees through him. When the righteous triumph, there is great rejoicing,  but when the wicked come to power, people hide.  The one who conceals his sins will not prosper,  but whoever confesses and renounces them will find mercy.  Happy is the one who is always reverent,  but one who hardens his heart falls into trouble.  A wicked ruler over a helpless people  is like a roaring lion or a charging bear.  A leader who lacks understanding is very oppressive, but one who hates dishonest profit prolongs his life.  Someone burdened by bloodguilt  will be a fugitive until death.  Let no one help him.  The one who lives with integrity will be helped, but one who distorts right and wrong  will suddenly fall.  The one who works his land will have plenty of food,  but whoever chases fantasies will have his fill of poverty.  A faithful person will have many blessings,  but one in a hurry to get rich  will not go unpunished.

He that turneth away his ear from hearing the law, Even his prayer shall be abomination. Whoso causeth the righteous to go astray in an evil way, He shall fall himself into his own pit: But the upright shall have good things in possession. The rich man is wise in his own conceit; But the poor that hath understanding searcheth him out. When righteous men do rejoice, there is great glory: But when the wicked rise, a man is hidden. He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: But whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy. Happy is the man that feareth alway: But he that hardeneth his heart shall fall into mischief. As a roaring lion, and a ranging bear; So is a wicked ruler over the poor people. The prince that wanteth understanding is also a great oppressor: But he that hateth covetousness shall prolong his days. A man that doeth violence to the blood of any person Shall flee to the pit; let no man stay him. Whoso walketh uprightly shall be saved: But he that is perverse in his ways shall fall at once. He that tilleth his land shall have plenty of bread: But he that followeth after vain persons shall have poverty enough. A faithful man shall abound with blessings: But he that maketh haste to be rich shall not be innocent.

One who turns away his ear from hearing the law, Even his prayer is an abomination. Whoever causes the upright to go astray in an evil way, He himself will fall into his own pit; But the blameless will inherit good. The rich man is wise in his own eyes, But the poor who has understanding searches him out. When the righteous rejoice, there is great glory; But when the wicked arise, men hide themselves. He who covers his sins will not prosper, But whoever confesses and forsakes them will have mercy. Happy is the man who is always reverent, But he who hardens his heart will fall into calamity. Like a roaring lion and a charging bear Is a wicked ruler over poor people. A ruler who lacks understanding is a great oppressor, But he who hates covetousness will prolong his days. A man burdened with bloodshed will flee into a pit; Let no one help him. Whoever walks blamelessly will be saved, But he who is perverse in his ways will suddenly fall. He who tills his land will have plenty of bread, But he who follows frivolity will have poverty enough! A faithful man will abound with blessings, But he who hastens to be rich will not go unpunished.

God has no use for the prayers of the people who won’t listen to him. Lead good people down a wrong path and you’ll come to a bad end; do good and you’ll be rewarded for it. The rich think they know it all, but the poor can see right through them. When good people are promoted, everything is great, but when the bad are in charge, watch out! You can’t whitewash your sins and get by with it; you find mercy by admitting and leaving them. A tenderhearted person lives a blessed life; a hardhearted person lives a hard life. Lions roar and bears charge— and the wicked lord it over the poor. Among leaders who lack insight, abuse abounds, but for one who hates corruption, the future is bright. A murderer haunted by guilt is doomed—there’s no helping him. Walk straight—live well and be saved; a devious life is a doomed life. Work your garden—you’ll end up with plenty of food; play and party—you’ll end up with an empty plate. Committed and persistent work pays off; get-rich-quick schemes are ripoffs.

One who turns his ear away from listening to the Law, Even his prayer is an abomination. One who leads the upright astray in an evil way Will himself fall into his own pit, But the blameless will inherit good. The rich person is wise in his own eyes, But the poor who has understanding sees through him. When the righteous triumph, there is great glory, But when the wicked rise, people hide themselves. One who conceals his wrongdoings will not prosper, But one who confesses and abandons them will find compassion. How blessed is the person who fears always, But one who hardens his heart will fall into disaster. Like a roaring lion and a rushing bear Is a wicked ruler over a poor people. A leader who is a great oppressor lacks understanding, But a person who hates unjust gain will prolong his days. A person who is burdened with the guilt of human blood Will be a fugitive until death; no one is to support him! One who walks blamelessly will receive help, But one who is crooked will fall all at once. One who works his land will have plenty of food, But one who follows empty pursuits will have plenty of poverty. A faithful person will abound with blessings, But one who hurries to be rich will not go unpunished.

He 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] He who leads the upright astray on an evil path Will himself fall into his own pit, But the blameless will inherit good. The 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. When the righteous triumph, there is great glory and celebration; But when the wicked rise [to prominence], men hide themselves. He who conceals his transgressions will not prosper, But whoever confesses and turns away from his sins will find compassion and mercy. [Ps 32:3, 5; 1 John 1:8-10] Blessed 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. Like a roaring lion and a charging bear Is a wicked ruler over a poor people. A 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. A 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. He who walks blamelessly and uprightly will be kept safe, But he who is crooked (perverse) will suddenly fall. He who cultivates his land will have plenty of bread, But he who follows worthless people and frivolous pursuits will have plenty of poverty. A 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]

The one who turns away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer is an abomination. The one who leads the upright astray in an evil way will himself fall into his own pit, but the blameless will inherit what is good. A rich person is wise in his own eyes, but a discerning poor person can evaluate him properly. When the righteous rejoice, great is the glory, but when the wicked rise to power, people are sought out. The one who covers his transgressions will not prosper, but whoever confesses them and forsakes them will find mercy. Blessed is the one who is always cautious, but whoever hardens his heart will fall into evil. Like a roaring lion or a roving bear, so is a wicked ruler over a poor people. The prince who is a great oppressor lacks wisdom, but the one who hates unjust gain will prolong his days. The one who is tormented by the murder of another will flee to the pit; let no one support him. The one who walks blamelessly will be delivered, but whoever is perverse in his ways will fall at once. The one who works his land will be satisfied with food, but whoever chases daydreams will have his fill of poverty. A faithful person will have an abundance of blessings, but the one who hastens to gain riches will not go unpunished.