Proverbs 28

¹ The wicked flee when no one pursues,
but the righteous are bold as a lion.

² When a land transgresses, it has many rulers,
but with a man of understanding and knowledge, order will last long.

³ A poor man who oppresses the poor
is like a driving rain that leaves no food.

⁴ Those who forsake the Torah praise the wicked,
but those who keep the Torah strive against them.

⁵ Evil people do not understand justice,
but those who seek the LORD understand it fully.

⁶ Better is a poor man who walks in his integrity
than one who is crooked in his ways, even if he is rich.

⁷ A son who keeps the Torah is discerning,
but one who is a companion of gluttons shames his father.

⁸ Whoever multiplies his wealth by interest and profit
gathers it for him who is generous to the poor.

⁹ If one turns away his ear from hearing the Torah,
even his prayer is an abomination.

¹⁰ Whoever misleads the upright into an evil way
will fall into his own pit,
but the blameless will have a goodly inheritance.

¹¹ A rich man is wise in his own eyes,
but a discerning poor man sees through him.

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

¹³ Whoever conceals his transgressions will not prosper,
but whoever confesses and forsakes them will find mercy.

¹⁴ Blessed is the one who fears the LORD always,
but whoever hardens his heart will fall into calamity.

¹⁵ Like a roaring lion or a charging bear
is a wicked ruler over a poor people.

¹⁶ A ruler who lacks understanding is a cruel oppressor,
but the one who hates unjust gain will prolong his days.

¹⁷ A person burdened with the blood of another
will be a fugitive until death;
let no one help him.

¹⁸ Whoever walks in integrity will be saved,
but the one who is crooked in his ways will suddenly fall.

¹⁹ Whoever works his land will have plenty of bread,
but whoever follows worthless pursuits will have plenty of poverty.

²⁰ A faithful man will abound with blessings,
but whoever hastens to be rich will not go unpunished.

²¹ To show partiality is not good,
yet for a piece of bread a person does wrong.

²² A stingy man hurries after wealth
and does not know that want will come upon him.

²³ Whoever rebukes a person will find favor in the end
more than one who flatters with his tongue.

²⁴ Whoever robs his father or his mother and says,
'It is no transgression,' is a companion of a man who destroys.

²⁵ A greedy person stirs up conflict,
but whoever trusts in the LORD will be richly satisfied.

²⁶ Whoever trusts in his own heart is a fool,
but whoever walks in wisdom will be delivered.

²⁷ Whoever gives to the poor will lack nothing,
but one who closes his eyes to them will get many a curse.

²⁸ When the wicked rise, people hide themselves,
but when they perish, the righteous increase.