Proverbs 28

¹The wicked flee when no one is pursuing,
But the righteous are ^[a]bold as a lion.
² By the transgression of a land many are its princes,
But by a man of understanding and knowledge, so it endures.
³ A poor man who oppresses the lowly
Is like a driving rain ^[b]which leaves no food.
⁴ Those who forsake the law praise the wicked,
But those who keep the law strive with them.
⁵ Evil men do not understand justice,
But those who seek the Lord understand all things.
⁶ Better is the poor who walks in his integrity
Than he who is ^[c]crooked though he be rich.
⁷ He who keeps the law is a discerning son,
But he who is a companion of gluttons humiliates his father.
⁸ He who increases his wealth by interest and usury
Gathers it for him who is gracious to the poor.
⁹ He who turns away his ear from listening to the law,
Even his prayer is an abomination.
¹⁰ He who leads the upright astray in an evil way
Will himself fall into his own pit,
But the blameless will inherit good.
¹¹ The rich man is wise in his own eyes,
But the poor who has understanding ^[d]sees through him.
¹² When the righteous triumph, there is great glory,
But when the wicked rise, men ^[e]hide themselves.
¹³ He who conceals his transgressions will not prosper,
But he who confesses and forsakes them will find compassion.
¹⁴ How blessed is the man who fears always,
But he who hardens his heart will fall into calamity.
¹⁵ Like a roaring lion and a rushing bear
Is a wicked ruler over a poor people.
¹⁶ A leader who is a great oppressor lacks understanding,
But he who hates unjust gain will prolong his days.
¹⁷ A man who is laden with the guilt of human blood
Will ^[f]be a fugitive until death; let no one support him.
¹⁸ He who walks blamelessly will be delivered,
But he who is ^[g]crooked will fall all at once.
¹⁹ He who tills his land will have plenty of food,
But he who follows empty pursuits will have poverty in plenty.
²⁰ A faithful man will abound with blessings,
But he who makes haste to be rich will not go unpunished.
²¹ To ^[h]show partiality is not good,
Because for a piece of bread a man will transgress.
²² A man with an evil eye hastens after wealth
And does not know that want will come upon him.
²³ He who rebukes a man will afterward find more favor
Than he who flatters with the tongue.
²⁴ He who robs his father or his mother
And says, “It is not a transgression,”
Is the companion of a man who destroys.
²⁵ An ^[i]arrogant man stirs up strife,
But he who trusts in the Lord will ^[j]prosper.
²⁶ He who trusts in his own heart is a fool,
But he who walks wisely will be delivered.
²⁷ He who gives to the poor will never want,
But he who ^[k]shuts his eyes will have many curses.
²⁸ When the wicked rise, men hide themselves;
But when they perish, the righteous increase.