The chapter opens by contrasting the fearful instability of the wicked with the boldness of the righteous. The wicked flee though no one pursues, but the righteous are as bold as a lion. Rebellion produces many rulers, while a ruler with understanding and knowledge maintains order. A poor ruler who oppresses the poor is like driving rain that leaves no crops. Those who forsake instruction praise the wicked, but those who heed instruction resist them. Evildoers do not understand justice, but those who seek the LORD understand it fully.
Proverbs 28:1
1 The wicked flee when no one pursues; but the righteous are as bold as a lion.
Proverbs 28:2
2 In rebellion, a land has many rulers, but order is maintained by a man of understanding and knowledge.
Proverbs 28:3
3 A needy man who oppresses the poor is like a driving rain which leaves no crops.
Proverbs 28:4
4 Those who forsake the law praise the wicked; but those who keep the law contend with them.
Proverbs 28:5
5 Evil men don’t understand justice; but those who seek Yahweh understand it fully.
Better is a poor person whose walk is blameless than a rich person whose ways are perverse. A discerning son heeds instruction, while a companion of gluttons disgraces his father. Wealth gained through exorbitant interest or unjust profit will eventually go to one who is kind to the poor. If one turns a deaf ear to instruction, even his prayers are detestable. Whoever leads the upright along an evil path will fall into his own trap, but the blameless receive a good inheritance. The rich may be wise in their own eyes, but a discerning poor person sees through them. When the righteous triumph there is great elation, but when the wicked rise to power people hide.
Proverbs 28:6
6 Better is the poor who walks in his integrity, than he who is perverse in his ways, and he is rich.
Proverbs 28:7
7 Whoever keeps the law is a wise son; but he who is a companion of gluttons shames his father.
Proverbs 28:8
8 He who increases his wealth by excessive interest gathers it for one who has pity on the poor.
Proverbs 28:9
9 He who turns away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer is an abomination.
Proverbs 28:10
10 Whoever causes the upright to go astray in an evil way, he will fall into his own trap; but the blameless will inherit good.
Proverbs 28:11
11 The rich man is wise in his own eyes; but the poor who has understanding sees through him.
Proverbs 28:12
12 When the righteous triumph, there is great glory; but when the wicked rise, men hide themselves.
Whoever conceals sins does not prosper, but the one who confesses and renounces them finds mercy. Blessed is the one who always trembles before the LORD, but whoever hardens his heart falls into trouble. A wicked ruler over a helpless people is like a roaring lion or charging bear. A tyrannical ruler practices extortion, but one who hates ill-gotten gain will enjoy long reign. One tormented by the guilt of murder will be a fugitive until death; no one should support him. The one whose walk is blameless is kept safe, but the one whose ways are perverse will fall into the pit.
Proverbs 28:13
13 He who conceals his sins doesn’t prosper, but whoever confesses and renounces them finds mercy.
Proverbs 28:14
14 Blessed is the man who always fears; but one who hardens his heart falls into trouble.
Proverbs 28:15
15 As a roaring lion or a charging bear, so is a wicked ruler over helpless people.
Proverbs 28:16
16 A tyrannical ruler lacks judgment. One who hates ill-gotten gain will have long days.
Proverbs 28:17
17 A man who is tormented by life blood will be a fugitive until death; no one will support him.
Proverbs 28:18
18 Whoever walks blamelessly is kept safe; but one with perverse ways will fall suddenly.
Those who work their land will have abundant food, but those who chase fantasies will have their fill of poverty. A faithful person will be richly blessed, but one eager to get rich will not go unpunished. Partiality is not good, yet people may do wrong for a piece of bread. The stingy are eager to get rich and do not know poverty awaits them. Whoever rebukes a person will in the end gain more favor than one with a flattering tongue. Robbing parents and claiming it is not wrong is partnership with destruction. The greedy stir up conflict, but those who trust in the LORD will prosper. Those who trust in themselves are fools, but those who walk in wisdom are kept safe.
Proverbs 28:19
19 One who works his land will have an abundance of food; but one who chases fantasies will have his fill of poverty.
Proverbs 28:20
20 A faithful man is rich with blessings; but one who is eager to be rich will not go unpunished.
Proverbs 28:21
21 To show partiality is not good; yet a man will do wrong for a piece of bread.
Proverbs 28:22
22 A stingy man hurries after riches, and doesn’t know that poverty waits for him.
Proverbs 28:23
23 One who rebukes a man will afterward find more favor than one who flatters with the tongue.
Proverbs 28:24
24 Whoever robs his father or his mother and says, “It’s not wrong,” is a partner with a destroyer.
Proverbs 28:25
25 One who is greedy stirs up strife; but one who trusts in Yahweh will prosper.
Proverbs 28:26
26 One who trusts in himself is a fool; but one who walks in wisdom is kept safe.
The chapter closes by contrasting generosity and social response to wicked rule. Those who give to the poor will lack nothing, but those who close their eyes to them receive many curses. When the wicked rise to power, people go into hiding; when the wicked perish, the righteous thrive.
Proverbs 28:27
27 One who gives to the poor has no lack; but one who closes his eyes will have many curses.
Proverbs 28:28
28 When the wicked rise, men hide themselves; but when they perish, the righteous thrive.