Proverbs 28

Warnings and Instructions

1The wicked 1flee when no one is pursuing, But the righteous are 2bold as a lion.2By the transgression of a land 3many are its princes, But 4by a man of understanding and knowledge, so it endures.3A 5poor man who oppresses the lowly Is like a driving rain 6which leaves no food.4Those who forsake the law 7praise the wicked, But those who keep the law 8strive with them.5Evil men 9do not understand justice, But those who seek the Lord 10understand all things.611Better is the poor who walks in his integrity Than he who is 12crooked though he be rich.7He who keeps the law is a discerning son, But he who is a companion of 13gluttons humiliates his father.8He who increases his wealth by 14interest and usury Gathers it 15for him who is gracious to the poor.9He who turns away his ear from listening to the law, Even his 16prayer is an abomination.10He who leads the upright astray in an evil way Will 17himself fall into his own pit, But the 18blameless will inherit good.11The rich man is 19wise in his own eyes, But the poor who has understanding 20sees through him.12When the 21righteous triumph, there is great glory, But 22when the wicked rise, men 23hide themselves.13He who 24conceals his transgressions will not prosper, But he who 25confesses and forsakes them will find compassion.14How blessed is the man who 26fears always, But he who 27hardens his heart will fall into calamity.15Like a 28roaring lion and a rushing bear Is a 29wicked ruler over a poor people.16A 30leader who is a great oppressor lacks understanding, But he who hates unjust gain will prolong his days.17A man who is 31laden with the guilt of human blood Will 32be a fugitive until death; let no one support him.18He who walks blamelessly will be delivered, But he who is 3334crooked will fall all at once.1935He who tills his land will 36have plenty of food, But he who follows empty pursuits will have poverty in plenty.20A 37faithful man will abound with blessings, But he who 38makes haste to be rich will not go unpunished.21To 3940show partiality is not good, 41Because for a piece of bread a man will transgress.22A man with an 42evil eye 43hastens after wealth And does not know that want will come upon him.23He who 44rebukes a man will afterward find more favor Than he who 45flatters with the tongue.24He who 46robs his father or his mother And says, “It is not a transgression,” Is the 47companion of a man who destroys.25An 48arrogant man 49stirs up strife, But he who 50trusts in the Lord 51will 52prosper.26He who 53trusts in his own heart is a fool, But he who walks wisely will be delivered.27He who 54gives to the poor will never want, But he who 55shuts his eyes will have many curses.28When the wicked rise, men hide themselves; But when they perish, the righteous increase.