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Proverbs 28
EasyEnglish Bible
Proverbs 28
EasyEnglish Bible
28 A wicked person runs away even when nobody is chasing him.
But a righteous person is as brave as a lion.
2 When the people in a country refuse to obey the law,
they will have many rulers.
But if a country has a wise ruler who understands what is right,
it will continue to be strong.
3 A poor person who is cruel to helpless people
is like a storm that destroys crops.[a]
4 People who do not obey the law praise wicked people.
But people who obey the law speak against wicked people.
5 Evil people do not understand justice.
But people who serve the Lord understand all about it.
6 It is better to be poor and live in an honest way
than to be a rich hypocrite.
7 If you obey the law, you are a wise child.
But if you make friends with greedy people,
you will make your parents ashamed.
8 If you make people pay more when you lend money to them,
you may become rich.
But someone else will enjoy your riches.
They will go to someone who is kind to poor people.
9 If you refuse to listen to God's law,
God will refuse to listen to your prayers.
10 If you cause a good person to do evil things,
your own evil trap will catch you.
But people who do nothing wrong will receive good things.
11 A rich person thinks that he knows everything.
But a poor person who understands people knows what he is really like.
12 When righteous people have power,
everybody is happy.
But when wicked people have power,
good people run away to hide.
13 Anyone who hides his sins will never do well.
But God will forgive somebody,
if he agrees that he has done wrong things,
and if he turns away from his sins.
14 If you are afraid to do wrong things, God will bless you.
But trouble will happen to anyone who refuses to obey.
15 A wicked ruler brings danger to poor people.
He is as dangerous as an angry lion or a hungry bear.
16 If a ruler is cruel, it shows that he is not wise.
But a ruler who refuses bribes will rule for a long time.
17 Someone who is guilty of murder will be running until he dies.
Nobody should help him to escape.
18 If you live in an honest way, you will be safe.
But the hypocrite will suddenly fall into trouble.
19 A farmer who works hard will have plenty of food to eat.
But anyone who works only on useless things will always be poor.
20 A faithful person will receive many blessings.
But anyone who hurries to become rich will only receive punishment.
21 When you judge people, you must always be fair. That is the right thing to do.
But even a small bribe can make some people do the wrong thing.
22 Greedy people hurry to become rich.
They do not know that they will soon be poor.
23 If you warn someone that he has done a wrong thing,
he will thank you in the end.
He will like you more than if you only say sweet words to him.
24 If anyone cheats his parents,
he may say that he has done nothing wrong.
But a person like that is as bad as a robber.
25 Greedy people cause a lot of trouble.
But someone who trusts the Lord will enjoy many good things.
26 If you trust your own thoughts, you are a fool.
But if you live in a wise way, you will be safe from danger.
27 If you give things to poor people, you will still have enough for yourself.
But everyone will curse you if you refuse to help poor people.
28 When wicked people become powerful,
everyone runs away to hide.
But when wicked people lose their power,
righteous people do well again.
Footnotes
- 28:3 ‘A poor person’ or ‘A wicked ruler’.
Proverbs 28
New International Version
Proverbs 28
New International Version
2 When a country is rebellious, it has many rulers,
but a ruler with discernment and knowledge maintains order.
3 A ruler[a] who oppresses the poor
is like a driving rain that leaves no crops.
4 Those who forsake instruction praise the wicked,
but those who heed it resist them.
5 Evildoers do not understand what is right,
but those who seek the Lord understand it fully.
6 Better the poor whose walk is blameless
than the rich whose ways are perverse.(D)
7 A discerning son heeds instruction,
but a companion of gluttons disgraces his father.(E)
8 Whoever increases wealth by taking interest(F) or profit from the poor
amasses it for another,(G) who will be kind to the poor.(H)
9 If anyone turns a deaf ear to my instruction,
even their prayers are detestable.(I)
10 Whoever leads the upright along an evil path
will fall into their own trap,(J)
but the blameless will receive a good inheritance.
11 The rich are wise in their own eyes;
one who is poor and discerning sees how deluded they are.
12 When the righteous triumph, there is great elation;(K)
but when the wicked rise to power, people go into hiding.(L)
13 Whoever conceals their sins(M) does not prosper,
but the one who confesses(N) and renounces them finds mercy.(O)
14 Blessed is the one who always trembles before God,
but whoever hardens their heart falls into trouble.
15 Like a roaring lion or a charging bear
is a wicked ruler over a helpless people.
16 A tyrannical ruler practices extortion,
but one who hates ill-gotten gain will enjoy a long reign.
17 Anyone tormented by the guilt of murder
will seek refuge(P) in the grave;
let no one hold them back.
18 The one whose walk is blameless is kept safe,(Q)
but the one whose ways are perverse will fall(R) into the pit.[b]
19 Those who work their land will have abundant food,
but those who chase fantasies will have their fill of poverty.(S)
20 A faithful person will be richly blessed,
but one eager to get rich will not go unpunished.(T)
22 The stingy are eager to get rich
and are unaware that poverty awaits them.(X)
23 Whoever rebukes a person will in the end gain favor
rather than one who has a flattering tongue.(Y)
24 Whoever robs their father or mother(Z)
and says, “It’s not wrong,”
is partner to one who destroys.(AA)
27 Those who give to the poor will lack nothing,(AF)
but those who close their eyes to them receive many curses.(AG)
28 When the wicked rise to power, people go into hiding;(AH)
but when the wicked perish, the righteous thrive.
Footnotes
- Proverbs 28:3 Or A poor person
- Proverbs 28:18 Syriac (see Septuagint); Hebrew into one
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