Proverbs 28

New Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition

28 The wicked flee when no one pursues,
    but the righteous are as bold as a lion.
² When a land rebels
    it has many rulers;
but with an intelligent ruler
    there is lasting order.^[a]
3 A ruler^[b] who oppresses the poor
    is a beating rain that leaves no food.
⁴ Those who forsake the law praise the wicked,
    but those who keep the law struggle against them.
⁵ The evil do not understand justice,
    but those who seek the Lord understand it completely.
⁶ Better to be poor and walk in integrity
    than to be crooked in one’s ways even though rich.
⁷ Those who keep the law are wise children,
    but companions of gluttons shame their parents.
⁸ One who augments wealth by exorbitant interest
    gathers it for another who is kind to the poor.
⁹ When one will not listen to the law,
    even one’s prayers are an abomination.
¹⁰ Those who mislead the upright into evil ways
    will fall into pits of their own making,
    but the blameless will have a goodly inheritance.
¹¹ The rich is wise in self-esteem,
    but an intelligent poor person sees through the pose.
¹² When the righteous triumph, there is great glory,
    but when the wicked prevail, people go into hiding.
¹³ No one who conceals transgressions will prosper,
    but one who confesses and forsakes them will obtain mercy.
¹⁴ Happy is the one who is never without fear,
    but one who is hard-hearted will fall into calamity.
¹⁵ Like a roaring lion or a charging bear
    is a wicked ruler over a poor people.
¹⁶ A ruler who lacks understanding is a cruel oppressor;
    but one who hates unjust gain will enjoy a long life.
¹⁷ If someone is burdened with the blood of another,
    let that killer be a fugitive until death;
    let no one offer assistance.
¹⁸ One who walks in integrity will be safe,
    but whoever follows crooked ways will fall into the Pit.^[c]
19 Anyone who tills the land will have plenty of bread,
    but one who follows worthless pursuits will have plenty of poverty.
²⁰ The faithful will abound with blessings,
    but one who is in a hurry to be rich will not go unpunished.
²¹ To show partiality is not good—
    yet for a piece of bread a person may do wrong.
²² The miser is in a hurry to get rich
    and does not know that loss is sure to come.
²³ Whoever rebukes a person will afterward find more favor
    than one who flatters with the tongue.
²⁴ Anyone who robs father or mother
    and says, “That is no crime,”
    is partner to a thug.
²⁵ The greedy person stirs up strife,
    but whoever trusts in the Lord will be enriched.
²⁶ Those who trust in their own wits are fools;
    but those who walk in wisdom come through safely.
²⁷ Whoever gives to the poor will lack nothing,
    but one who turns a blind eye will get many a curse.
²⁸ When the wicked prevail, people go into hiding;
    but when they perish, the righteous increase.