Proverbs 28:1-28
1 The wicked flee though no one pursues,
but the righteous are as bold as a lion.
2 When a country is rebellious, it has many rulers,
but a ruler with discernment and knowledge maintains order.
3 A ruler who oppresses the poor
is like a driving rain that leaves no crops.
4 Those who forsake instruction praise the wicked,
but those who heed it resist them.
5 Evildoers do not understand what is right,
but those who seek the Lord understand it fully.
6 Better the poor whose walk is blameless
than the rich whose ways are perverse.
7 A discerning son heeds instruction,
but a companion of gluttons disgraces his father.
8 Whoever increases wealth by taking interest or profit from the poor
amasses it for another, who will be kind to the poor.
9 If anyone turns a deaf ear to my instruction,
even their prayers are detestable.
10 Whoever leads the upright along an evil path
will fall into their own trap,
but the blameless will receive a good inheritance.
11 The rich are wise in their own eyes;
one who is poor and discerning sees how deluded they are.
12 When the righteous triumph, there is great elation;
but when the wicked rise to power, people go into hiding.
13 Whoever conceals their sins does not prosper,
but the one who confesses and renounces them finds mercy.
14 Blessed is the one who always trembles before God,
but whoever hardens their heart falls into trouble.
15 Like a roaring lion or a charging bear
is a wicked ruler over a helpless people.
16 A tyrannical ruler practices extortion,
but one who hates ill-gotten gain will enjoy a long reign.
17 Anyone tormented by the guilt of murder
will seek refuge in the grave;
let no one hold them back.
18 The one whose walk is blameless is kept safe,
but the one whose ways are perverse will fall into the pit.
19 Those who work their land will have abundant food,
but those who chase fantasies will have their fill of poverty.
20 A faithful person will be richly blessed,
but one eager to get rich will not go unpunished.
21 To show partiality is not good—
yet a person will do wrong for a piece of bread.
22 The stingy are eager to get rich
and are unaware that poverty awaits them.
23 Whoever rebukes a person will in the end gain favor
rather than one who has a flattering tongue.
24 Whoever robs their father or mother
and says, “It’s not wrong,”
is partner to one who destroys.
25 The greedy stir up conflict,
but those who trust in the Lord will prosper.
26 Those who trust in themselves are fools,
but those who walk in wisdom are kept safe.
27 Those who give to the poor will lack nothing,
but those who close their eyes to them receive many curses.
28 When the wicked rise to power, people go into hiding;
but when the wicked perish, the righteous thrive.
You are not a God who is pleased with wickedness; with you, evil people are not welcome...The arrogant cannot stand in Your Presence...You hate all who do wrong; You destroy those who tell lies...The bloodthirsty and deceitful You, LORD, detest...
A ruler with discernment and knowledge maintains order...A ruler who oppresses the poor and his neighbor is like a driving rain that leaves destruction in his path...Evildoers do not understand what is right and make up lies, but those who seek the LORD understand righteousness fully...He whose walk is evil and perverse will suddenly fall...A faithful man will be richly blessed, but those who are evil in their richness will not go unpunished...To show partiality is not good-- yet a man will do wrong for a piece of bread...An evil man may believe he can take the things, and even the life of others, but God will bring justice to those evil ones...He who manufactures lies on other men will in the end lose favor among all men and gain nothing for his evil...He who robs his father or mother and says, "It's not wrong"-- he is partner to him who destroys...He who robs from his neighbor is evil and breaks one of God's Commandments...A greedy and evil man stirs up dissension and is a manufacturer of lies, but he who trusts in the LORD will prosper...He who trusts only in himself is a fool, but he who walks in the wisdom of God is kept safe...He who gives to the poor will lack nothing, but he who closes his eyes and harms his neighbor and the poor will receive many curses and be judged by God...Run from evil...When the wicked and evil rise to power, people go into hiding; but when the wicked perish, the righteous thrive...