Pro 28-29 | ESV | STEP | The wicked flee when no one pursues , but the righteous are bold as a lion .

Proverbs 28

1 ^aThe wicked flee when no one pursues,
but ^bthe righteous are bold as a lion.
2 When a land transgresses, ^cit has many rulers,
but with a man of understanding and knowledge,
its stability will long continue.
3 ^dA poor man who oppresses the poor
is a beating rain that leaves no food.
4 Those who forsake the law ^epraise the wicked,
but those who keep the law ^fstrive against them.
5 Evil men ^gdo not understand justice,
but those who seek the Lord ^hunderstand it completely.
6 ⁱBetter is a poor man who ^jwalks in his integrity
than a rich man who is ^kcrooked in his ways.
7 The one who keeps the law is a son with understanding,
but ^la companion of gluttons shames his father.
8 Whoever multiplies his wealth ^mby interest and profit ^{▼▼That is, profit that comes from charging interest to the poor}
^ogathers it for him who is ^pgenerous to the poor.
9 If one turns away his ear from hearing the law,
even his ^qprayer is an abomination.
10 Whoever misleads the upright into an evil way
^rwill fall into his own pit,
but the blameless ^swill have a goodly inheritance.
11 A rich man is wise in his ^town eyes,
but a poor man who has understanding ^uwill find him out.
12 When ^vthe righteous triumph, there is great glory,
but when ^wthe wicked rise, people hide themselves.
13 Whoever ^xconceals his transgressions will not prosper,
but he who ^yconfesses and forsakes them will obtain mercy.
14 Blessed is the one who ^zfears the Lord always,
but whoever ^aahardens his heart will fall into calamity.
15 Like ^aba roaring lion or ^aca charging bear
is ^ada wicked ruler over a poor people.
16 A ruler who ^aelacks understanding is a cruel oppressor,
but he who hates unjust gain will prolong his days.
17 If one is burdened with ^afthe blood of another,
he will be a fugitive until death; ^{▼▼Hebrew until the pit}
let no one help him.
18 ^ahWhoever ^aiwalks in integrity will be delivered,
but he who is crooked in his ways will suddenly fall.
19 ^ajWhoever 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 ^akwill not go unpunished.
21 To show ^alpartiality is not good,
but for ^ama piece of bread a man will do wrong.
22 A ^anstingy man ^{▼▼Hebrew A man whose eye is evil} ^aphastens after wealth
and does not know that ^aqpoverty will come upon him.
23 Whoever ^arrebukes a man will afterward find more favor
than ^ashe who flatters with his tongue.
24 Whoever robs his father or his mother
and says, “That is no transgression,”
is ^ata companion to a man who destroys.
25 A greedy man ^austirs up strife,
but the one who trusts in the Lord will ^avbe enriched.
26 Whoever ^awtrusts in his own mind is a fool,
but he who walks in wisdom will be delivered.
27 Whoever ^axgives to the poor will not want,
but he who ^ayhides his eyes will get many a curse.
28 When ^azthe wicked rise, ^bapeople hide themselves,
but when they perish, the righteous increase.

Proverbs 29

1 ^bbHe who is often reproved, yet stiffens his neck,
will suddenly be ^bcbroken ^bdbeyond healing.
2 When ^bethe righteous increase, the people rejoice,
but when ^bfthe wicked rule, the people groan.
3 He who ^bgloves wisdom makes his father glad,
but ^bha companion of prostitutes ^bisquanders his wealth.
4 By justice a king ^bjbuilds up the land,
but he who exacts gifts ^{▼▼Or who taxes heavily} tears it down.
5 ^blA man who flatters his neighbor
spreads ^bma net for his feet.
6 An evil man is ^bnensnared in his transgression,
but a righteous man ^bosings and rejoices.
7 A righteous man ^bpknows the rights of the poor;
a wicked man does not ^bqunderstand such knowledge.
8 ^brScoffers 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 ^bsno quiet.
10 Bloodthirsty men ^bthate one who is blameless
and seek the life of the upright. ^{▼▼Or but the upright seek his soul}
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 ^bvmeet together;
the Lord ^bwgives light to the eyes of both.
14 If a king ^bxfaithfully judges the poor,
his throne will ^bybe established forever.
15 ^bzThe rod and reproof give wisdom,
but a child left to himself ^cabrings shame to his mother.
16 When the wicked increase, transgression increases,
but ^cbthe righteous will look upon their downfall.
17 ^ccDiscipline your son, and he will give you rest;
he will give delight to your heart.
18 Where ^cdthere is no prophetic vision the people ^cecast off restraint, ^{▼▼Or the people are discouraged}
but blessed is he who ^cgkeeps 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?
^chThere is more hope for a fool than for him.
21 Whoever pampers his servant from childhood
will in the end find him his heir. ^{▼▼The meaning of the Hebrew word rendered his heir is uncertain}
22 ^cjA man of wrath stirs up strife,
and one given to anger causes much transgression.
23 ^ckOne’s pride will bring him low,
^clbut he who is lowly in spirit will obtain honor.
24 The partner of a thief ^cmhates his own life;
^cnhe hears the curse, but discloses nothing.
25 ^coThe fear of man lays a snare,
but whoever trusts in the Lord is safe.
26 Many ^cpseek the face of a ruler,
but it is from the Lord that a man ^cqgets justice.
27 ^crAn unjust man is an abomination to the righteous,
but one whose way is straight is an abomination to the wicked.