28:1 The wicked flee when no one is pursuing,
But the righteous are ①bold as a lion.
▷ ①Lit confident
28:2 Due to a ①wrongdoing of ②a land its leaders are many,
But by a person of understanding and knowledge, so it endures.
▷ ①Or rebellion ②I.e., the people of a land
28:3 A poor man who oppresses the helpless
Is like a driving rain ①which leaves no food.
▷ ①Lit and there is no bread
28:4 Those who abandon the Law praise the wicked,
But those who keep the Law strive against them.
28:5 Evil people do not understand justice,
But those who seek the LORD understand everything.
28:6 Better is a poor person who walks in his integrity,
Than a person who is ①crooked, though he is rich.
▷ ①Lit perverse of two ways
28:7 He who keeps the Law is a discerning son,
But he who is a companion of gluttons humiliates his father.
28:8 One who increases his wealth by ①interest of any kind,
Collects it for one who is gracious to the poor.
▷ ①Possibly interest on money and food loans
28:9 One who turns his ear away from listening to the Law,
Even his prayer is an abomination.
28:10 One who leads the upright astray in an evil way
Will himself fall into his own pit,
But the blameless will inherit good.
28:11 The rich person is wise in his own eyes,
But the poor who has understanding ①sees through him.
▷ ①Lit examines him
28:12 When the righteous triumph, there is great glory,
But when the wicked rise, people ①hide themselves.
▷ ①Lit will be searched for
28:13 One who conceals his wrongdoings will not prosper,
But one who confesses and abandons them will find compassion.
28:14 How blessed is the person who fears always,
But one who hardens his heart will fall into disaster.
28:15 Like a roaring lion and a rushing bear
Is a wicked ruler over a poor people.
28:16 A leader who is a great oppressor lacks understanding,
But a person who hates unjust gain will prolong his days.
28:17 A person who is burdened with the guilt of human blood
Will ①be a fugitive until death; no one is to support him!
▷ ①Lit flee to the pit
28:18 One who walks blamelessly will receive help,
But one who is ①crooked will fall all at once.
▷ ①Lit perverse of two ways
28:19 One who works his land will have plenty of food,
But one who follows empty pursuits will have plenty of poverty.
28:20 A faithful person will abound with blessings,
But one who hurries to be rich will not go unpunished.
28:21 To ①show partiality is not good,
Because for a piece of bread a man will do wrong.
▷ ①Lit regard the face
28:22 A person with an evil eye hurries after wealth
And does not know that poverty will come upon him.
28:23 One who rebukes a person will afterward find more favor
Than one who flatters with the tongue.
28:24 He who robs his father or his mother
And says, “There is no wrong done,”
Is the companion of a person who destroys.
28:25 An ①arrogant person stirs up strife,
But one who trusts in the LORD will ②prosper.
▷ ①Lit broad soul ②Lit be made fat
28:26 One who trusts in his own heart is a fool,
But one who walks wisely will flee to safety.
28:27 One who gives to the poor will never lack anything,
But one who ①shuts his eyes will have many curses.
▷ ①Lit hides
28:28 When the wicked rise, people hide themselves;
But when they perish, the righteous increase.