< Proverbs 28 >

1 The wicked have fled and there is no pursuer, And the righteous is confident as a young lion. 2 By the transgression of a land its heads are many, And by an understanding man, Who knows right—it is prolonged. 3 A man—poor and oppressing the weak, [Is] a sweeping rain, and there is no bread. 4 Those forsaking the Law praise the wicked, Those keeping the Law plead against them. 5 Evil men do not understand judgment, And those seeking YHWH understand all. 6 Better [is] the poor walking in his integrity, Than the perverse of ways who is rich. 7 Whoever is keeping the Law is an intelligent son, And a friend of gluttons Causes his father to blush. 8 Whoever is multiplying his wealth by biting and usury, Gathers it for one favoring the poor. 9 Whoever is turning his ear from hearing the Law, Even his prayer [is] an abomination. 10 Whoever is causing the upright to err in an evil way, He falls into his own pit, And the perfect inherits good. 11 A rich man is wise in his own eyes, And the intelligent poor searches him. 12 In the exulting of the righteous the glory [is] abundant, And in the rising of the wicked man is apprehensive. 13 Whoever is covering his transgressions does not prosper, And he who is confessing and forsaking has mercy. 14 O the blessedness of a man fearing continually, And whoever is hardening his heart falls into evil. 15 A growling lion, and a ranging bear, [Is] the wicked ruler over a poor people. 16 A leader lacking understanding multiplies oppressions, Whoever is hating dishonest gain prolongs days. 17 A man oppressed with the blood of a soul, Flees to the pit, [and] none takes hold on him [to help]. 18 Whoever is walking uprightly is saved, And the perverted of ways falls at once. 19 Whoever is tilling his ground is satisfied [with] bread, And whoever is pursuing vanity, Is filled [with] poverty. 20 A steadfast man has multiplied blessings, And whoever is hastening to be rich is not acquitted. 21 [It] is not good to discern faces, And a man transgresses for a piece of bread. 22 The man [with] an evil eye [is] troubled for wealth, And he does not know that want meets him. 23 Whoever is reproving a man finds grace afterward, More than a flatterer with the tongue. 24 Whoever is robbing his father or his mother, And is saying, “It is not transgression,” He is a companion to a destroyer. 25 Whoever is proud in soul stirs up contention, And whoever is trusting on YHWH is made fat. 26 Whoever is trusting in his heart is a fool, And whoever is walking in wisdom is delivered. 27 Whoever is giving to the poor has no lack, And whoever is hiding his eyes multiplied curses. 28 A man is hidden in the rising of the wicked, And the righteous multiply in their destruction!

< Proverbs 28 >