28:1 The wicked person flees when there is no one pursuing,¹
but the righteous is as confident² as a lion.
28:2 When a country is rebellious³ it has many princes,⁴
but by someone who is discerning and knowledgeable⁵
order continues.⁶
28:3 A poor person⁷ who oppresses the weak
is a driving rain without food.⁸
28:4 Those who forsake the Law⁹ praise the wicked,¹⁰
but those who keep the Law contend¹¹ with them.
28:5 Evil people¹² do not understand justice,¹³
but those who seek the LORD¹⁴ understand it all.
28:6 A poor person¹⁵ who walks in his integrity is better
than one who is perverse in his ways¹⁶ even though¹⁷ rich.¹⁸
28:7 The one who keeps the Law¹⁹ is a discerning child,²⁰
but a companion of gluttons brings shame²¹ to his father.
28:8 The one who increases his wealth by increasing interest²²
gathers it for someone who is gracious²³ to the needy.
28:9 The one who turns away his ear²⁴ from hearing the Law,
even his prayer²⁵ is an abomination.²⁶
28:10 The one who leads the upright astray in an evil way
shall himself fall into his own pit;²⁷
but the blameless shall inherit what is good.²⁸
28:11 A rich person²⁹ is wise in his own eyes,³⁰
but a discerning poor person can examine him thoroughly.³¹
28:12 When the righteous rejoice,³² great is the glory;³³
but when the wicked rise to power, people are sought out.³⁴
28:13 The one who covers³⁵ his transgressions shall not prosper,³⁶
but whoever confesses and abandons them will find mercy.³⁷
28:14 Blessed is the one who always fears,³⁸
but whoever hardens his heart³⁹ shall fall into evil.
28:15 As⁴⁰ a roaring lion or a roving bear,⁴¹
so is a wicked ruler over a poor people.⁴²
28:16 The prince who is a great oppressor lacks understanding,⁴³
but the one who hates⁴⁴ unjust gain will prolong his days.
28:17 A person who is tormented⁴⁵ by the murder⁴⁶ of another
shall flee to the pit;⁴⁷ let no one support him.
28:18 The one who walks blamelessly shall be delivered,⁴⁸
but whoever is perverse in his ways⁴⁹ shall fall⁵⁰ at once.⁵¹
28:19 The one who works his land will be satisfied with food,⁵²
but whoever chases fantasies⁵³ will have his fill⁵⁴ of poverty.
28:20 A faithful person⁵⁵ shall have an abundance of blessings,
but the one who hastens⁵⁶ to gain riches shall not go unpunished.
28:21 To show partiality⁵⁷ is not good,
for a man will transgress over the smallest piece of bread.⁵⁸
28:22 The stingy person⁵⁹ hastens after riches
and does not know that poverty shall come upon him.⁶⁰
28:23 The one who reproves⁶¹ another⁶² shall in the end⁶³ find more favor
than the one who flatters⁶⁴ with the tongue.
28:24 The one who robs⁶⁵ his father and his mother, and says,
“There is no transgression”—
the same is a companion⁶⁶ to the one⁶⁷ who destroys.
28:25 The greedy person⁶⁸ stirs up dissension,⁶⁹
but the one who trusts⁷⁰ in the LORD will prosper.⁷¹
28:26 The one who trusts in his heart⁷² is a fool,
but the one who walks in wisdom⁷³ shall escape.⁷⁴
28:27 The one who gives to the poor shall not lack,⁷⁵
but whoever hides his eyes⁷⁶ will receive⁷⁷ many curses.⁷⁸
28:28 When the wicked rise,⁷⁹ people⁸⁰ hide themselves,⁸¹
but when they perish,⁸² the righteous increase.