Proverbs 28:1-28
28 Wrong-doers run with nobody chasing them,but an honest man is as fearless as a two-year-old lion.
2 By demoralization in a country dissensions are numerous,but a sagacious man will extinguish them.
3 ** Aggrandizement of a chief and no rights for poor menis a pounding rain and no crop.
4 Men who give up sound doctrine praise wrong-doers,but men who are careful of sound doctrine oppose them.
5 Bad men have no insight into justice,but those who seek Jehovah have insight into everything.
6 Better a poor man leading a conscientious lifethan a man of crooked courses, he being rich.
7 One who keeps sound doctrine is a sensible son,but one who cultivates gormandizers humiliates his father.
8 One who increases his capital by interest and bonusis gathering for one who will do favors for poor men.
9 If one takes his ear away from hearing sound doctrinehis very prayer is an abomination.
10 One who misleads upright men into a bad coursewill himself fall into his pitfall,but conscientious men will come in for good.
11 A rich man thinks he is wise,but an intelligent poor man will see through him.
12 When honest men are celebrating a triumphplenty of finery is on parade;But when rogues come to the toppeople wear old clothes.
13 One who is covering up his offenses will not succeed;but one who acknowledges them and leaves them off will meet with clemency.
14 * Happy a man who is always apprehensive;but one who stiffens up his heart will fall into disaster.
15 An unscrupulous ruler over a poor peopleis a growling lion and a ravenous bear.
16 ** A regent who is deficient in insight will be plentiful in injustices;but one who hates jobbery will have a long life.
17 A man outlawed for bloodshedis to be a fugitive till he comes to the Pit; they are not to holdhim up.
18 * One who walks conscientiously will be saved,but a man of crooked courses will fall into a pitfall.
19 One who works his ground will have plenty of bread;but one who runs after unpractical things will have plenty of poverty.
20 A man of faithful dealing will have many blessings,but one who is in a hurry to get rich will not be held innocent.
21 Favoritism is not a good thing,and a man may offend on account of a bit of bread.
22 A stingy man is absorbed in propertyand does not know it is want that is coming to him.
23 One who reproves men will subsequently find more gratitudethan a smooth-tongued person.
24 One who steals from his father and motherand says it is no crimeis a mate for a ravager.
25 A man of excessive appetite starts quarrels,but one who trusts in Jehovah will be given plenty of oil.
26 * One who trusts to his own ideas is a fool,but one who goes by wisdom will come off safe.
27 He who gives to the poor man has no shortage;but he who ignores him has plenty of curses.
28 When rogues come to the top, people take cover;but when they perish, honest men grow plentiful.
Footnotes
^ 28:3 Codd. A man who is poor and refuses their rights to poor men
^ 28:3 Lit. and no bread
^ 28:14 Or who always stands in fear
^ 28:16 Susp.
^ 28:16 Or a long lease of power Lit. long days
^ 28:18 Var. will fall once for all Var. will fall (without more words)
^ 28:26 Lit. his own heart
