Proverbs Chapter 28

¹ Sinners run when no one’s chasing,

but the good are as bold as lions.

                  ²When a country sins, lots of leaders vie for control;

            but wise and knowledgeable leaders bring stability.

³ The poor that oppress the poor

are like a driving rain that destroys crops.

                  ⁴Those who leave the Law commend the sinful,

            but those who keep it contend with them.

⁵ Bad people don’t understand justice,

those who look to the LORD understand it.

                  ⁶Being poor and honest

            is better than being rich and dishonest.                     

Prov 28:1-6

⁷ Young people that keep the Law are wise offspring,

but companions of gluttons humiliate their parents.

                  ⁸Whoever increases wealth by charging high interest,

            gathers it for the one that’s kind to the poor.

⁹ When people quit listening to the Law,

even their prayers become offensive.

                  ¹⁰They who mislead the godly

                  fall into their own pit,

            but the honest inherit good things.

¹¹ The rich may think they’re smart,

                  but poor people with insight can see through them.

                  ¹²When the godly triumph, everybody’s glad;

            but when the sinful take over, people leave.             

Prov 28:7-12

¹³ Concealing your sins won’t make you prosper,

but confessing and abandoning them will foster mercy.

                  ¹⁴How blessed they are who fear doing wrong,

            but those who harden their hearts are headed for trouble.

¹⁵ An evil ruler is as dangerous to poor people

as a roaring lion or a charging bear.

                  ¹⁶A leader that oppresses isn’t using good judgment;

            anyone that hates unjust gain prolongs life.

¹⁷ Corrupt leaders, loaded down with the guilt of human blood,

will be fugitives till death; nobody will take their side.

                  ¹⁸People that live with integrity will be rescued,

            but those who are perverse will suddenly fall.          

Prov 28:13-18

¹⁹ The man that plows his ground will have plenty to eat,

but one that follows fantasies will be poor in the midst of plenty.

                  ²⁰Reliable people receive many blessings,

            but those who want to get rich quick get into trouble.

²¹ Showing partiality is never good;

yet some would sin to get a piece of bread.

                  ²²A miser hurries to get rich

            and doesn’t realize that want will overtake him.

²³ Someone that rebukes finds more approval

than someone that flatters.

                  ²⁴People that steal from their parents,

                  and claim it’s not sin,

            are no better than murderers.                                     

Prov 28:19-24

²⁵ Arrogant people stir up conflict,

but those who trust in the LORD prosper.

                  ²⁶People are foolish to trust in themselves;

            it’s the ones that live wisely that stay safe.

²⁷ If you give to the poor, you’ll never be poor;

but if you close your eyes to poverty, you’ll be cursed.

         ²⁸When corrupt leaders rise to power, people go into hiding;

            when they meet disaster, the godly flourish.             

Prov 28:25-28