PROVERBS 28 [^] c The wicked flee when no one pursues,
but d the righteous are bold as a lion.
2[^][†] When a land transgresses, e it has many rulers,
but with a man of understanding and knowledge,
its stability will long continue.
3 f A poor man who oppresses the poor
is a beating rain that leaves no food.
4 Those who forsake the law g praise the wicked,
but those who keep the law h strive against them.
5[†] Evil men i do not understand justice,
but those who seek the LORD j understand it completely.
6 k Better is a poor man who l walks in his integrity
than a rich man who is l crooked in his ways.
7 The one who keeps the law is a son with understanding,
but m a companion of gluttons shames his father.
8 Whoever multiplies his wealth n by interest and profit [1]
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 a hardens his heart will fall into calamity.
15[†] Like b a roaring lion or c a charging bear
is d a wicked ruler over a poor people.
16 A ruler who e lacks understanding is a cruel oppressor,
but he who hates unjust gain will prolong his days.
17[†] If one is burdened with f the blood of another,
he will be a fugitive until death; [2]
let no one help him.
18 g Whoever h walks in integrity will be delivered,
but he who is crooked in his ways will suddenly fall.
19[†] i 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 j will not go unpunished.
21 To show k partiality is not good,
but for l a piece of bread a man will do wrong.
22 A m stingy man [3] n hastens after wealth
and does not know that o poverty will come upon him.
23 Whoever p rebukes a man will afterward find more favor
than q he who flatters with his tongue.
24 Whoever robs his father or his mother
and says, “That is no transgression,”
is r a companion to a man who destroys.
25 A greedy man s stirs up strife,
but the one who trusts in the LORD will t be enriched.
26 Whoever u trusts in his own mind is a fool,
but he who walks in wisdom will be delivered.
27 Whoever v gives to the poor will not want,
but he who w hides his eyes will get many a curse.
28[†] When x the wicked rise, y people hide themselves,
but when they perish, the righteous increase.