Proverbs 28

1  a The wicked flee when no one pursues,
but b the righteous are bold as a lion.
 2 When a land transgresses c it has many rulers,
but with a man of understanding and knowledge,
its stability will long continue.
 3  d A poor man who oppresses the poor
is a beating rain that leaves no food.
 4 Those who forsake the law e praise the wicked,
but those who keep the law f strive against them.
 5 Evil men g do not understand justice,
but those who seek the  Lord h understand it completely.
 6  i Better is a poor man who j walks in his integrity
than a rich man who is k crooked in his ways.
 7 The one who keeps the law is a son with understanding,
but l a companion of gluttons shames his father.
 8 Whoever multiplies his wealth m by interest and profit ▼
▼ That is,  profit that comes from charging interest to the poor

o gathers it for him who is p generous to the poor.
 9 If one turns away his ear from hearing the law,
even his q prayer is an abomination.
 10 Whoever misleads the upright into an evil way
r will fall into his own pit,
but the blameless s will have a goodly inheritance.
 11 A rich man is wise in his t own eyes,
but a poor man who has understanding u will find him out.
 12 When v the righteous triumph, there is great glory,
but when w the wicked rise, people hide themselves.
 13 Whoever x conceals his transgressions will not prosper,
but he who y confesses and forsakes them will obtain mercy.
 14 Blessed is the one who z fears the  Lord always,
but whoever aa hardens his heart will fall into calamity.
 15 Like ab a roaring lion or ac a charging bear
is ad a wicked ruler over a poor people.
 16 A ruler who ae lacks understanding is a cruel oppressor,
but he who hates unjust gain will prolong his days.
 17 If one is burdened with af the blood of another,
he will be a fugitive until death; ▼
▼ Hebrew  until the pit

let no one help him.
 18  ah Whoever ai walks in integrity will be delivered,
but he who is crooked in his ways will suddenly fall.
 19  aj Whoever works his land will have plenty of bread,
but he who follows worthless pursuits will have plenty of poverty.
 20 A faithful man will abound with blessings,
but whoever hastens to be rich ak will not go unpunished.
 21 To show al partiality is not good,
but for am a piece of bread a man will do wrong.
 22 A an stingy man ▼
▼ Hebrew  A man whose eye is evil
 ap hastens after wealth
and does not know that aq poverty will come upon him.
 23 Whoever ar rebukes a man will afterward find more favor
than as he who flatters with his tongue.
 24 Whoever robs his father or his mother
and says, “That is no transgression,”
is at a companion to a man who destroys.
 25 A greedy man au stirs up strife,
but the one who trusts in the  Lord will av be enriched.
 26 Whoever aw trusts in his own mind is a fool,
but he who walks in wisdom will be delivered.
 27 Whoever ax gives to the poor will not want,
but he who ay hides his eyes will get many a curse.
 28 When az the wicked rise ba people hide themselves,
but when they perish, the righteous increase.
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