Proverbs 28

¹The wicked flee when no one is pursuing,
But the righteous are bold as a lion.

²By the transgression of a land many are its princes,
But by a man of understanding and knowledge, so it endures.

³A poor man who oppresses the lowly
Is like a driving rain which leaves no food.

⁴Those who forsake the law praise the wicked,
But those who keep the law strive with them.

⁵Evil men do not understand justice,
But those who seek the Lord understand all things.

⁶Better is the poor who walks in his integrity
Than he who is crooked though he be rich.

⁷He who keeps the law is a discerning son,
But he who is a companion of gluttons humiliates his father.

⁸He who increases his wealth by interest and usury
Gathers it for him who is gracious to the poor.

⁹He who turns away his ear from listening to the law,
Even his prayer is an abomination.

¹⁰He who leads the upright astray in an evil way
Will himself fall into his own pit,
But the blameless will inherit good.

¹¹The rich man is wise in his own eyes,
But the poor who has understanding sees through him.

¹²When the righteous triumph, there is great glory,
But when the wicked rise, men hide themselves.

¹³He who conceals his transgressions will not prosper,
But he who confesses and forsakes them will find compassion.

¹⁴How blessed is the man who fears always,
But he who hardens his heart will fall into calamity.

¹⁵Like a roaring lion and a rushing bear
Is a wicked ruler over a poor people.

¹⁶A leader who is a great oppressor lacks understanding,
But he who hates unjust gain will prolong his days.

¹⁷A man who is laden with the guilt of human blood
Will be a fugitive until death; let no one support him.

¹⁸He who walks blamelessly will be delivered,
But he who is crooked will fall all at once.

¹⁹He who tills his land will have plenty of food,
But he who follows empty pursuits will have poverty in plenty.

²⁰A faithful man will abound with blessings,
But he who makes haste to be rich will not go unpunished.

²¹To show partiality is not good,
Because for a piece of bread a man will transgress.

²²A man with an evil eye hastens after wealth
And does not know that want will come upon him.

²³He who rebukes a man will afterward find more favor
Than he who flatters with the tongue.

²⁴He who robs his father or his mother
And says, “It is not a transgression,”
Is the companion of a man who destroys.

²⁵An arrogant man stirs up strife,
But he who trusts in the Lord will prosper.

²⁶He who trusts in his own heart is a fool,
But he who walks wisely will be delivered.

²⁷He who gives to the poor will never want,
But he who shuts his eyes will have many curses.

²⁸When the wicked rise, men hide themselves;
But when they perish, the righteous increase.