Proverbs 28

The righteous are bold as a lion

The wicked flee though no one pursues, but the righteous are as bold as a lion.a ²When a country is rebellious, it has many rulers, but a ruler with discernment and knowledge maintains order. ³A ruler who oppresses the poor is like a driving rain that leaves no crops.

⁴Those who forsake instruction praise the wicked, but those who heed it resist them.b ⁵Evildoers do not understand what is right, but those who seek the Lord understand it fully.c ⁶Better the poor whose walk is blameless than the rich whose ways are perverse.d

⁷A discerning son heeds instruction, but a companion of gluttons disgraces his father. ⁸Whoever increases wealth by taking interest or profit from the poor amasses it for another, who will be kind to the poor.e ⁹If anyone turns a deaf ear to my instruction, even their prayers are detestable.f

¹⁰Whoever leads the upright along an evil path will fall into their own trap, but the blameless will receive a good inheritance.g ¹¹The rich are wise in their own eyes; one who is poor and discerning sees how deluded they are. ¹²When the righteous triumph, there is great elation; but when the wicked rise to power, people go into hiding.h

¹³Whoever conceals their sins does not prosper, but the one who confesses and renounces them finds mercy.i ¹⁴Blessed is the one who always trembles before God, but whoever hardens their heart falls into trouble.j ¹⁵Like a roaring lion or a charging bear is a wicked ruler over a helpless people.

¹⁶A tyrannical ruler practices extortion, but one who hates ill-gotten gain will enjoy a long reign. ¹⁷Anyone tormented by the guilt of murder will seek refuge in the grave; let no one hold them back. ¹⁸The one whose walk is blameless is kept safe, but the one whose ways are perverse will fall into the pit.k

¹⁹Those who work their land will have abundant food, but those who chase fantasies will have their fill of poverty.l ²⁰A faithful person will be richly blessed, but one eager to get rich will not go unpunished.m ²¹To show partiality is not good— yet a person will do wrong for a piece of bread.

²²The stingy are eager to get rich and are unaware that poverty awaits them. ²³Whoever rebukes a person will in the end gain favor rather than one who has a flattering tongue.n ²⁴Whoever robs their father or mother and says, “It’s not wrong,” is partner to one who destroys.

²⁵The greedy stir up conflict, but those who trust in the Lord will prosper.o ²⁶Those who trust in themselves are fools, but those who walk in wisdom are kept safe.p ²⁷Those who give to the poor will lack nothing, but those who close their eyes to them receive many curses.q

²⁸When the wicked rise to power, people go into hiding; but when the wicked perish, the righteous thrive.r