Warnings and Instructions

28 The wicked (A)flee when no one is pursuing,
But the righteous are [a]bold as a lion.
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.
A (D)poor man who oppresses the helpless
Is like a driving rain [d]which leaves no food.
Those who abandon the Law (E)praise the wicked,
But those who keep the Law (F)strive against them.
Evil people (G)do not understand justice,
But those who seek the Lord (H)understand everything.
(I)Better is a poor person who walks in his integrity,
Than a person who is [e]crooked, though he is rich.
He who keeps the Law is a discerning son,
But he who is a companion of (J)gluttons humiliates his father.
One who increases his wealth by [f](K)interest of any kind,
Collects it (L)for one who is gracious to the poor.
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.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 28:1 Lit confident
  2. Proverbs 28:2 Or rebellion
  3. Proverbs 28:2 I.e., the people of a land
  4. Proverbs 28:3 Lit and there is no bread
  5. Proverbs 28:6 Lit perverse of two ways
  6. Proverbs 28:8 Possibly interest on money and food loans

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