Proverbs 28

¹The impious flees, though no one pursues. But the just, like a confident lion, shall be without dread.

²Because of the sins of the land, it has many princes. And because of the wisdom of a man, and the knowledge of those things that are said, the life of the leader shall be prolonged.

³A poor man slandering the poor is like a violent rainstorm in advance of a famine.

⁴Those who abandon the law praise the impious. Those who guard it are inflamed against him.

⁵Evil men do not intend judgment. But those who inquire after the Lord turn their souls toward all things.

⁶Better is the pauper walking in his simplicity, than the rich walking in ways of depravity.

⁷Whoever keeps the law is a wise son. But whoever feeds gluttons brings shame to his father.

⁸Whoever piles up riches by usury and profit gathers them for him who will give freely to the poor.

⁹Whoever turns away his ears from listening to the law: his prayer will be detestable.

¹⁰Whoever deceives the just in a malicious way will fall into his own perdition. And the simple shall possess his goods.

¹¹The rich one seems wise to himself. But the poor one, being prudent, shall evaluate him.

¹²In the exultation of the just, there is great glory. When the impious reign, men are brought to ruin.

¹³Whoever hides his crimes will not be guided. But whoever will have confessed and abandoned them shall overtake mercy.

¹⁴Blessed is the man who is ever fearful. Yet truly, whoever is hardened in mind will fall into evil.

¹⁵An impious leader over a poor people is like a roaring lion and a hungry bear.

¹⁶A leader destitute of prudence will oppress many through false accusations. But whoever hates avarice shall prolong his days.

¹⁷A man who slanders the blood of a life, even if he flees to the pit, no one will tolerate him.

¹⁸Whoever walks simply shall be saved. Whoever is perverse in his steps will fall all at once.

¹⁹Whoever works his land shall be satisfied with bread. But whoever pursues leisure will be filled with need.

²⁰A faithful man shall be greatly praised. But whoever rushes to become rich will not be innocent.

²¹Whoever shows favoritism in judgment does not do well; even if it is for a morsel of bread, he forsakes the truth.

²²A man who hurries to become rich, and who envies others, does not know that destitution will overwhelm him.

²³Whoever corrects a man, afterward he shall find favor with him, more so than he who deceives him with a flattering tongue.

²⁴Whoever takes away anything from his father or mother, and who says, “This is not a sin,” is the associate of a murderer.

²⁵Whoever boasts and enlarges himself stirs up conflicts. Yet truly, whoever trusts in the Lord will be healed.

²⁶Whoever trusts in his own heart is a fool. But whoever treads wisely, the same shall be saved.

²⁷Whoever gives to the poor shall not be in need. Whoever despises his petition will suffer scarcity.

²⁸When the impious rise up, men will hide themselves. When they perish, the just shall be multiplied.

Proverbs 28

¹The wicked man fleeth, when no man pursueth: but the just, bold as a lion, shall be without dread.

²For the sins of the land many are the princes thereof: and for the wisdom of a man, and the knowledge of those things that are said, the life of the prince shall be prolonged.

³A poor man that oppresseth the poor, is like a violent shower, which bringeth a famine.

⁴They that forsake the law, praise the wicked man: they that keep it, are incensed against him.

⁵Evil men think not on judgment: but they that seek after the Lord, take notice of all things.

⁶Better is the poor man walking in his simplicity, than the rich in crooked ways.

⁷He that keepeth the law, is a wise son: but he that feedeth gluttons, shameth his father.

⁸He that heapeth together riches by usury and loan, gathereth them for him that will be bountiful to the poor.

⁹He that turneth away his ears from hearing the law, his prayer shall be an abomination.

¹⁰He that deceiveth the just in a wicked way, shall fall in his own destruction: and the upright shall possess his goods.

¹¹The rich man seemeth to himself wise: but the poor man that is prudent shall search him out.

¹²In the joy of the just there is great glory: when the wicked reign, men are ruined.

¹³He that hideth his sins, shall not prosper: but he that shall confess, and forsake them, shall obtain mercy.

¹⁴Blessed is the man that is always fearful: but he that is hardened in mind shall fall into evil.

¹⁵As a roaring lion, and a hungry bear, so is a wicked prince over the poor people.

¹⁶A prince void of prudence shall oppress many by calumny: but he that hateth covetousness, shall prolong his days.

¹⁷A man that doth violence to the blood of a person, if he flee even to the pit, no man will stay him.

¹⁸He that walketh uprightly, shall be saved: he that is perverse in his ways, shall fall at once.

¹⁹He that tilleth his ground, shall be filled with bread: but he that followeth idleness, shall be filled with poverty.

²⁰A faithful man shall be much praised: but he that maketh haste to be rich, shall not be innocent.

²¹He that hath respect to a person in judgment, doth not well: such a man even for a morsel of bread forsaketh the truth.

²²A man that maketh haste to be rich, and envieth others, is ignorant that poverty shall come upon him.

²³He that rebuketh a man, shall afterward find favour with him, more than he that by a flattering tongue deceiveth him.

²⁴He that stealeth any thing from his father, or from his mother: and saith, This is no sin, is the partner of a murderer.

²⁵He that boasteth and puffeth up himself, stirreth up quarrels: but he that trusteth in the Lord, shall be healed.

²⁶He that trusteth in his own heart, is a fool: but he that walketh wisely, he shall be saved.

²⁷He that giveth to the poor shall not want: he that despiseth his entreaty, shall suffer indigence.

²⁸When the wicked rise up, men shall hide themselves: when they perish, the just shall be multiplied.