28 A wicked person runs away even when nobody is chasing him.
But a righteous person is as brave as a lion.
2 When the people in a country refuse to obey the law,
they will have many rulers.
But if a country has a wise ruler who understands what is right,
it will continue to be strong.
3 A poor person who is cruel to helpless people
is like a storm that destroys crops. [ a ]
4 People who do not obey the law praise wicked people.
But people who obey the law speak against wicked people.
5 Evil people do not understand justice.
But people who serve the Lord understand all about it.
6 It is better to be poor and live in an honest way
than to be a rich hypocrite.
7 If you obey the law, you are a wise child.
But if you make friends with greedy people,
you will make your parents ashamed.
8 If you make people pay more when you lend money to them,
you may become rich.
But someone else will enjoy your riches.
They will go to someone who is kind to poor people.
9 If you refuse to listen to God's law,
God will refuse to listen to your prayers.
10 If you cause a good person to do evil things,
your own evil trap will catch you.
But people who do nothing wrong will receive good things.
11 A rich person thinks that he knows everything.
But a poor person who understands people knows what he is really like.
12 When righteous people have power,
everybody is happy.
But when wicked people have power,
good people run away to hide.
13 Anyone who hides his sins will never do well.
But God will forgive somebody,
if he agrees that he has done wrong things,
and if he turns away from his sins.
14 If you are afraid to do wrong things, God will bless you.
But trouble will happen to anyone who refuses to obey.
15 A wicked ruler brings danger to poor people.
He is as dangerous as an angry lion or a hungry bear.
16 If a ruler is cruel, it shows that he is not wise.
But a ruler who refuses bribes will rule for a long time.
17 Someone who is guilty of murder will be running until he dies.
Nobody should help him to escape.
18 If you live in an honest way, you will be safe.
But the hypocrite will suddenly fall into trouble.
19 A farmer who works hard will have plenty of food to eat.
But anyone who works only on useless things will always be poor.
20 A faithful person will receive many blessings.
But anyone who hurries to become rich will only receive punishment.
21 When you judge people, you must always be fair. That is the right thing to do.
But even a small bribe can make some people do the wrong thing.
22 Greedy people hurry to become rich.
They do not know that they will soon be poor.
23 If you warn someone that he has done a wrong thing,
he will thank you in the end.
He will like you more than if you only say sweet words to him.
24 If anyone cheats his parents,
he may say that he has done nothing wrong.
But a person like that is as bad as a robber.
25 Greedy people cause a lot of trouble.
But someone who trusts the Lord will enjoy many good things.
26 If you trust your own thoughts, you are a fool.
But if you live in a wise way, you will be safe from danger.
27 If you give things to poor people, you will still have enough for yourself.
But everyone will curse you if you refuse to help poor people.
28 When wicked people become powerful,
everyone runs away to hide.
But when wicked people lose their power,
righteous people do well again.
28 The wicked are afraid of everything, but those who live right are as brave as lions.
2 A lawless nation will have many bad leaders. But a smart leader will rule for a long time in a land where people obey the law.
3 A leader who takes advantage of the poor is like a hard rain that destroys the crops. [ a ]
4 Those who refuse to obey the law promote evil. Those who obey the law oppose evil.
5 The wicked don’t understand justice, but those who love the Lord understand it completely.
6 It is better to be poor and honest than rich and evil.
7 A smart son obeys the laws, but a son who spends time with worthless people brings shame to his father.
8 If you get rich by charging high interest rates, your wealth will go to someone who is kind to the poor.
9 When people do not listen to God’s teachings, he does not listen to their prayers.
10 Those who plan to hurt good people will fall into their own traps, but good things will happen to those who are good.
11 The rich always think they are wise, but a poor person who is wise can see the truth.
12 When good people become leaders, everything is great, but when the wicked rise to power, everyone hides.
13 Whoever hides their sins will not be successful, but whoever confesses their sins and stops doing wrong will receive mercy.
14 People who respect others will be blessed, but stubborn people will have plenty of troubles.
15 An evil ruler over those who are helpless is like an angry lion or a charging bear.
16 A foolish ruler hurts the people under him, but a ruler who hates wrong will rule for a long time.
17 A murderer will never have peace. Don’t support such a person.
18 Honest people will be safe, but dishonest people will be ruined.
19 Whoever works hard will have plenty to eat, but whoever wastes their time with dreams will always be poor.
20 People who can be trusted will have many blessings, but those who are just trying to get rich in a hurry will be punished.
21 It is wrong for a judge to support someone simply because he knows them. But some judges will change their decisions for the price of a loaf of bread.
22 Selfish people only want to get rich. They do not realize that they are very close to being poor.
23 Correct someone, and later they will thank you. That is much better than just saying something to be nice.
24 Someone might steal from their parents and say, “I did nothing wrong.” But that person is as bad as an enemy who smashes everything in the house.
25 Greedy people might sue you in court, but those who trust the Lord are rewarded.
26 It is foolish to be too confident. Those who ask for advice are wise and will escape disaster.
27 Whoever gives to the poor will have plenty. Whoever refuses to help them will get nothing but curses.
28 When the wicked rise to power, everyone hides. When they are defeated, good people multiply.
28 The wicked flee when no man pursueth: but the righteous are bold as a lion.
2 For the transgression of a land many are the princes thereof: but by a man of understanding and knowledge the state thereof shall be prolonged.
3 A poor man that oppresseth the poor is like a sweeping rain which leaveth no food.
4 They that forsake the law praise the wicked: but such as keep the law contend with them.
5 Evil men understand not judgment: but they that seek the Lord understand all things.
6 Better is the poor that walketh in his uprightness, than he that is perverse in his ways, though he be rich.
7 Whoso keepeth the law is a wise son: but he that is a companion of riotous men shameth his father.
8 He that by usury and unjust gain increaseth his substance, he shall gather it for him that will pity the poor.
9 He that turneth away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer shall be abomination.
10 Whoso causeth the righteous to go astray in an evil way, he shall fall himself into his own pit: but the upright shall have good things in possession.
11 The rich man is wise in his own conceit; but the poor that hath understanding searcheth him out.
12 When righteous men do rejoice, there is great glory: but when the wicked rise, a man is hidden.
13 He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy.
14 Happy is the man that feareth alway: but he that hardeneth his heart shall fall into mischief.
15 As a roaring lion, and a ranging bear; so is a wicked ruler over the poor people.
16 The prince that wanteth understanding is also a great oppressor: but he that hateth covetousness shall prolong his days.
17 A man that doeth violence to the blood of any person shall flee to the pit; let no man stay him.
18 Whoso walketh uprightly shall be saved: but he that is perverse in his ways shall fall at once.
19 He that tilleth his land shall have plenty of bread: but he that followeth after vain persons shall have poverty enough.
20 A faithful man shall abound with blessings: but he that maketh haste to be rich shall not be innocent.
21 To have respect of persons is not good: for for a piece of bread that man will transgress.
22 He that hasteth to be rich hath an evil eye, and considereth not that poverty shall come upon him.
23 He that rebuketh a man afterwards shall find more favour than he that flattereth with the tongue.
24 Whoso robbeth his father or his mother, and saith, It is no transgression; the same is the companion of a destroyer.
25 He that is of a proud heart stirreth up strife: but he that putteth his trust in the Lord shall be made fat.
26 He that trusteth in his own heart is a fool: but whoso walketh wisely, he shall be delivered.
27 He that giveth unto the poor shall not lack: but he that hideth his eyes shall have many a curse.
28 When the wicked rise, men hide themselves: but when they perish, the righteous increase.
28 The wicked ( A ) flee when no one is pursuing,
But the righteous are [ a ] bold as a lion.
2 Due to a [ b ] wrongdoing of [ c ] a land its leaders are ( B ) many,
But ( C ) by a person of understanding and knowledge, so it endures.
3 A ( D ) poor man who oppresses the helpless
Is like a driving rain [ d ] which leaves no food.
4 Those who abandon the Law ( E ) praise the wicked,
But those who keep the Law ( F ) strive against them.
5 Evil people ( G ) do not understand justice,
But those who seek the Lord ( H ) understand everything.
6 ( I ) Better is a poor person who walks in his integrity,
Than a person who is [ e ] crooked, though he is rich.
7 He who keeps the Law is a discerning son,
But he who is a companion of ( J ) gluttons humiliates his father.
8 One who increases his wealth by [ f ] ( K ) interest of any kind ,
Collects it ( L ) for one who is gracious to the poor.
9 One who turns his ear away from listening to the Law,
Even his ( M ) prayer is an abomination.
10 One 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 person is ( P ) wise in his own eyes,
But the poor who has understanding [ g ] sees through him.
12 When the ( Q ) righteous triumph, there is great glory,
But ( R ) when the wicked rise, people [ h ] hide themselves.
13 One who ( S ) conceals his wrongdoings will not prosper,
But one who ( T ) confesses and abandons them will find compassion.
14 How blessed is the person who ( U ) fears always,
But one who ( V ) hardens his heart will fall into disaster.
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 a person who hates unjust gain will prolong his days.
17 A person who is ( Z ) burdened with the guilt of human blood
Will [ i ] be a fugitive until death; no one is to support him!
18 One who walks blamelessly will receive help,
But one who is [ j ] ( AA ) crooked will fall all at once.
19 ( AB ) One who works his land will ( AC ) have plenty of food,
But one who follows empty pursuits will have plenty of poverty.
20 A ( AD ) faithful person will abound with blessings,
But one who ( AE ) hurries to be rich will not go unpunished.
21 To [ k ] ( AF ) show partiality is not good,
( AG ) Because for a piece of bread a man will do wrong.
22 A person with an ( AH ) evil eye ( AI ) hurries after wealth
And does not know that poverty will come upon him.
23 One who ( AJ ) rebukes a person will afterward find more favor
Than one who ( AK ) flatters with the tongue.
24 He who ( AL ) robs his father or his mother
And says, “There is no wrong done,”
Is the ( AM ) companion of a person who destroys.
25 An [ l ] arrogant person ( AN ) stirs up strife,
But one who ( AO ) trusts in the Lord ( AP ) will [ m ] prosper.
26 One who ( AQ ) trusts in his own heart is a fool,
But one who walks wisely will flee to safety.
27 One who ( AR ) gives to the poor will never lack anything ,
But one who [ n ] shuts his eyes will have many curses.
28 When the wicked rise, people hide themselves;
But when they perish, the righteous increase.
28 The wicked flee ( A ) though no one pursues, ( B )
but the righteous are as bold as a lion. ( C )
2 When a country is rebellious, it has many rulers,
but a ruler with discernment and knowledge maintains order.
3 A ruler [ a ] who oppresses the poor
is like a driving rain that leaves no crops.
4 Those who forsake instruction praise the wicked,
but those who heed it resist them.
5 Evildoers do not understand what is right,
but those who seek the Lord understand it fully.
6 Better the poor whose walk is blameless
than the rich whose ways are perverse. ( D )
7 A discerning son heeds instruction,
but a companion of gluttons disgraces his father. ( E )
8 Whoever increases wealth by taking interest ( F ) or profit from the poor
amasses it for another, ( G ) who will be kind to the poor. ( H )
9 If anyone turns a deaf ear to my instruction,
even their prayers are detestable. ( I )
10 Whoever leads the upright along an evil path
will fall into their own trap, ( J )
but the blameless will receive a good inheritance.
11 The rich are wise in their own eyes;
one who is poor and discerning sees how deluded they are.
12 When the righteous triumph, there is great elation; ( K )
but when the wicked rise to power, people go into hiding. ( L )
13 Whoever conceals their sins ( M ) does not prosper,
but the one who confesses ( N ) and renounces them finds mercy. ( O )
14 Blessed is the one who always trembles before God,
but whoever hardens their heart falls into trouble.
15 Like a roaring lion or a charging bear
is a wicked ruler over a helpless people.
16 A tyrannical ruler practices extortion,
but one who hates ill-gotten gain will enjoy a long reign.
17 Anyone tormented by the guilt of murder
will seek refuge ( P ) in the grave;
let no one hold them back.
18 The one whose walk is blameless is kept safe, ( Q )
but the one whose ways are perverse will fall ( R ) into the pit. [ b ]
19 Those who work their land will have abundant food,
but those who chase fantasies will have their fill of poverty. ( S )
20 A faithful person will be richly blessed,
but one eager to get rich will not go unpunished. ( T )
21 To show partiality ( U ) is not good ( V ) —
yet a person will do wrong for a piece of bread. ( W )
22 The stingy are eager to get rich
and are unaware that poverty awaits them. ( X )
23 Whoever rebukes a person will in the end gain favor
rather than one who has a flattering tongue. ( Y )
24 Whoever robs their father or mother ( Z )
and says, “It’s not wrong,”
is partner to one who destroys. ( AA )
26 Those who trust in themselves are fools, ( AD )
but those who walk in wisdom are kept safe. ( AE )
27 Those who give to the poor will lack nothing, ( AF )
but those who close their eyes to them receive many curses. ( AG )
28 When the wicked rise to power, people go into hiding; ( AH )
but when the wicked perish, the righteous thrive.
