Warnings and Instructions
28 The wicked (A)flee when no one is pursuing,
But the righteous are bold as a lion.
2 By the transgression of a land (B)many are its princes,
But (C)by a man of understanding and knowledge, so it endures.
3 A (D)poor man who oppresses the lowly
Is like a driving rain which leaves no food.
4 Those who forsake the law (E)praise the wicked,
But those who keep the law (F)strive with them.
5 Evil men (G)do not understand justice,
But those who seek the Lord (H)understand all things.
6 (I)Better is the poor who walks in his integrity
Than he who is crooked though he be rich.
7 He who keeps the law is a discerning son,
But he who is a companion of (J)gluttons humiliates his father.
8 He who increases his wealth by (K)interest and usury
Gathers it (L)for him who is gracious to the poor.
9 He who turns away his ear from listening to the law,
Even his (M)prayer is an abomination.
10 He who leads the upright astray in an evil way
Will (N)himself fall into his own pit,
But the (O)blameless will inherit good.
11 The rich man is (P)wise in his own eyes,
But the poor who has understanding sees through him.
12 When the (Q)righteous triumph, there is great glory,
But (R)when the wicked rise, men hide themselves.
13 He who (S)conceals his transgressions will not prosper,
But he who (T)confesses and forsakes them will find compassion.
14 How blessed is the man who (U)fears always,
But he who (V)hardens his heart will fall into calamity.
15 Like a (W)roaring lion and a rushing bear
Is a (X)wicked ruler over a poor people.
16 A (Y)leader who is a great oppressor lacks understanding,
But he who hates unjust gain will prolong his days.
17 A man who is (Z)laden with the guilt of human blood
Will be a fugitive until death; let no one support him.
18 He who walks blamelessly will be delivered,
But he who is (AA)crooked will fall all at once.
19 (AB)He who tills his land will (AC)have plenty of food,
But he who follows empty pursuits will have poverty in plenty.
20 A (AD)faithful man will abound with blessings,
But he who (AE)makes haste to be rich will not go unpunished.
21 To (AF)show partiality is not good,
(AG)Because for a piece of bread a man will transgress.
22 A man with an (AH)evil eye (AI)hastens after wealth
And does not know that want will come upon him.
23 He who (AJ)rebukes a man will afterward find more favor
Than he who (AK)flatters with the tongue.
24 He who (AL)robs his father or his mother
And says, “It is not a transgression,”
Is the (AM)companion of a man who destroys.
25 An arrogant man (AN)stirs up strife,
But he who (AO)trusts in the Lord (AP)will prosper.
26 He who (AQ)trusts in his own heart is a fool,
But he who walks wisely will be delivered.
27 He who (AR)gives to the poor will never want,
But he who shuts his eyes will have many curses.
28 When the wicked rise, men hide themselves;
But when they perish, the righteous increase.
Footnotes
- Proverbs 28:1
- Proverbs 28:3
- Proverbs 28:6
- Proverbs 28:11
- Proverbs 28:12
- Proverbs 28:17
- Proverbs 28:18
- Proverbs 28:21
- Proverbs 28:25
- Proverbs 28:25
- Proverbs 28:27
Cross references
- Proverbs 28:1 : Lev 26:17, 36; Ps 53:5
- Proverbs 28:2 : 1 Kin 16:8-28; 2 Kin 15:8-15
- Proverbs 28:2 : Prov 11:11
- Proverbs 28:3 : Matt 18:28
- Proverbs 28:4 : Ps 49:18; Rom 1:32
- Proverbs 28:4 : 1 Kin 18:18; Neh 13:11, 15; Matt 3:7; 14:4; Eph 5:11
- Proverbs 28:5 : Ps 92:6; Is 6:9; 44:18
- Proverbs 28:5 : Ps 119:100; Prov 2:9; John 7:17; 1 Cor 2:15; 1 John 2:20, 27
- Proverbs 28:6 : Prov 19:1
- Proverbs 28:7 : Prov 23:20
- Proverbs 28:8 : Ex 22:25; Lev 25:36
- Proverbs 28:8 : Job 27:17; Prov 13:22; 14:31
- Proverbs 28:9 : Ps 66:18; 109:7; Prov 15:8; 21:27
- Proverbs 28:10 : Ps 7:15; Prov 26:27
- Proverbs 28:10 : Matt 6:33; Heb 6:12; 1 Pet 3:9
- Proverbs 28:11 : Prov 3:7; 26:5, 12
- Proverbs 28:12 : Prov 11:10; 29:2
- Proverbs 28:12 : Prov 28:28; Eccl 10:5, 6
- Proverbs 28:13 : Job 31:33; Ps 32:3
- Proverbs 28:13 : Ps 32:5; 1 John 1:9
- Proverbs 28:14 : Prov 23:17
- Proverbs 28:14 : Ps 95:8; Rom 2:5
- Proverbs 28:15 : Prov 19:12; 1 Pet 5:8
- Proverbs 28:15 : Ex 1:14; Prov 29:2; Matt 2:16
- Proverbs 28:16 : Eccl 10:16; Is 3:12
- Proverbs 28:17 : Gen 9:6; Ex 21:14
- Proverbs 28:18 : Prov 10:27
- Proverbs 28:19 : Prov 12:11
- Proverbs 28:19 : Prov 20:13
- Proverbs 28:20 : Prov 10:6; Matt 24:45; 25:21
- Proverbs 28:20 : Prov 20:21; 28:22; 1 Tim 6:9
- Proverbs 28:21 : Prov 24:23
- Proverbs 28:21 : Ezek 13:19
- Proverbs 28:22 : Prov 23:6
- Proverbs 28:22 : Prov 21:5
- Proverbs 28:23 : Prov 27:5, 6
- Proverbs 28:23 : Prov 29:5
- Proverbs 28:24 : Prov 19:26
- Proverbs 28:24 : Prov 18:9
- Proverbs 28:25 : Prov 15:18
- Proverbs 28:25 : Prov 29:25; 1 Tim 6:6
- Proverbs 28:25 : Prov 11:25
- Proverbs 28:26 : Prov 3:5
- Proverbs 28:27 : Prov 11:24; 19:17
