Proverbs 28-29

English Standard Version

28 ^(A)The wicked flee when no one pursues,
    but ^(B)the righteous are bold as a lion.
² When a land transgresses, ^(C)it has many rulers,
    but with a man of understanding and knowledge,
    its stability will long continue.
^3 (D)A poor man who oppresses the poor
    is a beating rain that leaves no food.
⁴ Those who forsake the law ^(E)praise the wicked,
    but those who keep the law ^(F)strive against them.
⁵ Evil men ^(G)do not understand justice,
    but those who seek the Lord ^(H)understand it completely.
^6 (I)Better is a poor man who ^(J)walks in his integrity
    than a rich man who is ^(K)crooked in his ways.
⁷ The one who keeps the law is a son with understanding,
    but ^(L)a companion of gluttons shames his father.
⁸ Whoever multiplies his wealth ^(M)by interest and profit^{[a]
    (N)}gathers it for him who is ^(O)generous to the poor.
⁹ If one turns away his ear from hearing the law,
    even his ^(P)prayer is an abomination.
¹⁰ Whoever misleads the upright into an evil way
    ^(Q)will fall into his own pit,
    but the blameless ^(R)will have a goodly inheritance.
¹¹ A rich man is wise in his ^(S)own eyes,
    but a poor man who has understanding ^(T)will find him out.
¹² When ^(U)the righteous triumph, there is great glory,
    but when ^(V)the wicked rise, people hide themselves.
¹³ Whoever ^(W)conceals his transgressions will not prosper,
    but he who ^(X)confesses and forsakes them will obtain mercy.
¹⁴ Blessed is the one who ^(Y)fears the Lord^[b] always,
    but whoever ^(Z)hardens his heart will fall into calamity.
¹⁵ Like ^(AA)a roaring lion or ^(AB)a charging bear
    is ^(AC)a wicked ruler over a poor people.
¹⁶ A ruler who ^(AD)lacks understanding is a cruel oppressor,
    but he who hates unjust gain will prolong his days.
¹⁷ If one is burdened with ^(AE)the blood of another,
    he will be a fugitive until death;^[c]
    let no one help him.
^18 (AF)Whoever ^(AG)walks in integrity will be delivered,
    but he who is crooked in his ways will suddenly fall.
^19 (AH)Whoever works his land will have plenty of bread,
    but he who follows worthless pursuits will have plenty of poverty.
²⁰ A faithful man will abound with blessings,
    but whoever hastens to be rich ^(AI)will not go unpunished.
²¹ To show ^(AJ)partiality is not good,
    but for ^(AK)a piece of bread a man will do wrong.
²² A ^(AL)stingy man^{[d] (AM)}hastens after wealth
    and does not know that ^(AN)poverty will come upon him.
²³ Whoever ^(AO)rebukes a man will afterward find more favor
    than ^(AP)he who flatters with his tongue.
²⁴ Whoever robs his father or his mother
    and says, “That is no transgression,”
    is ^(AQ)a companion to a man who destroys.
²⁵ A greedy man ^(AR)stirs up strife,
    but the one who trusts in the Lord will ^(AS)be enriched.
²⁶ Whoever ^(AT)trusts in his own mind is a fool,
    but he who walks in wisdom will be delivered.
²⁷ Whoever ^(AU)gives to the poor will not want,
    but he who ^(AV)hides his eyes will get many a curse.
²⁸ When ^(AW)the wicked rise, ^(AX)people hide themselves,
    but when they perish, the righteous increase.
29 ^(AY)He who is often reproved, yet stiffens his neck,
    will suddenly be ^(AZ)broken ^(BA)beyond healing.
² When ^(BB)the righteous increase, the people rejoice,
    but when ^(BC)the wicked rule, the people groan.
³ He who ^(BD)loves wisdom makes his father glad,
    but ^(BE)a companion of prostitutes ^(BF)squanders his wealth.
⁴ By justice a king ^(BG)builds up the land,
    but he who exacts gifts^[e] tears it down.
^5 (BH)A man who flatters his neighbor
    spreads ^(BI)a net for his feet.
⁶ An evil man is ^(BJ)ensnared in his transgression,
    but a righteous man ^(BK)sings and rejoices.
⁷ A righteous man ^(BL)knows the rights of the poor;
    a wicked man does not ^(BM)understand such knowledge.
^8 (BN)Scoffers set a city aflame,
    but the wise turn away wrath.
⁹ If a wise man has an argument with a fool,
    the fool only rages and laughs, and there is ^(BO)no quiet.
¹⁰ Bloodthirsty men ^(BP)hate one who is blameless
    and seek the life of the upright.^[f]
11 A fool gives full vent to his spirit,
    but a wise man quietly holds it back.
¹² If a ruler listens to falsehood,
    all his officials will be wicked.
¹³ The poor man and the oppressor ^(BQ)meet together;
    the Lord ^(BR)gives light to the eyes of both.
¹⁴ If a king ^(BS)faithfully judges the poor,
    his throne will ^(BT)be established forever.
^15 (BU)The rod and reproof give wisdom,
    but a child left to himself ^(BV)brings shame to his mother.
¹⁶ When the wicked increase, transgression increases,
    but ^(BW)the righteous will look upon their downfall.
^17 (BX)Discipline your son, and he will give you rest;
    he will give delight to your heart.
¹⁸ Where ^(BY)there is no prophetic vision the people ^(BZ)cast off restraint,^[g]
    but blessed is he who ^(CA)keeps the law.
¹⁹ By mere words a servant is not disciplined,
    for though he understands, he will not respond.
²⁰ Do you see a man who is hasty in his words?
    ^(CB)There is more hope for a fool than for him.
²¹ Whoever pampers his servant from childhood
    will in the end find him his heir.^[h]
22 (CC)A man of wrath stirs up strife,
    and one given to anger causes much transgression.
^23 (CD)One's pride will bring him low,
    ^(CE)but he who is lowly in spirit will obtain honor.
²⁴ The partner of a thief ^(CF)hates his own life;
    ^(CG)he hears the curse, but discloses nothing.
^25 (CH)The fear of man lays a snare,
    but whoever trusts in the Lord is safe.
²⁶ Many ^(CI)seek the face of a ruler,
    but it is from the Lord that a man ^(CJ)gets justice.
^27 (CK)An unjust man is an abomination to the righteous,
    but one whose way is straight is an abomination to the wicked.