Proverbs 28 Free Bible Version
Audio: World English Bible (WEB), read by Winfred W. Henson · About the recordings
1 The wicked run away even when no one is chasing them, but the good have the trusting boldness of lions.
1 The wicked flee when no one pursues; but the righteous are as bold as a lion.
2 When a country is in rebellion, it has many rulers, but a ruler who is wise and knowledgeable provides strength and continuity.
2 In rebellion, a land has many rulers, but order is maintained by a man of understanding and knowledge.
3 When someone poor oppresses the poor, it's like heavy rain that beats down the crops.
3 A needy man who oppresses the poor is like a driving rain which leaves no crops.
4 People who reject the law praise the wicked, but those who keep the law fight against them.
4 Those who forsake the law praise the wicked; but those who keep the law contend with them.
5 Evil people understand nothing about justice, but those who follow the Lord understand it completely.
5 Evil men don’t understand justice; but those who seek Yahweh understand it fully.
6 Better to be poor and have integrity than to be devious and rich.
6 Better is the poor who walks in his integrity than he who is perverse in his ways, and he is rich.
7 If you keep the law, you're a wise son, but if you keep bad company you shame your father.
7 Whoever keeps the law is a wise son; but he who is a companion of gluttons shames his father.
8 Anyone who gets rich through charging interest and profiteering is only storing it up for someone who is kind to the poor.
8 He who increases his wealth by excessive interest gathers it for one who has pity on the poor.
9 God hates the prayers of people who disregard the law.
9 He who turns away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer is an abomination.
10 Those who lead good people astray into evil ways will fall into their own traps, but the innocent will receive a good reward.
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.
11 The rich see themselves as wise, but poor people with insight see right through them.
11 The rich man is wise in his own eyes; but the poor who has understanding sees through him.
12 When good people win, everyone celebrates, but when the wicked come to power, people hide.
12 When the righteous triumph, there is great glory; but when the wicked rise, men hide themselves.
13 People who hide their sins won't succeed, but those who confess and renounce their sins will be shown kindness.
13 He who conceals his sins doesn’t prosper, but whoever confesses and renounces them finds mercy.
14 Blessed are those who always respect the Lord, but those who are stubborn end up in a lot of trouble.
14 Blessed is the man who always fears; but one who hardens his heart falls into trouble.
15 A wicked ruler lording it over poor people is like a roaring lion or a charging bear.
15 As a roaring lion or a charging bear, so is a wicked ruler over helpless people.
16 An unwise ruler thoroughly extorts his people, but one who refuses to profit illegally will live long.
16 A tyrannical ruler lacks judgment. One who hates ill-gotten gain will have long days.
17 Someone guilty of murder will go on running away from it until they die. Don't try and stop them.
17 A man who is tormented by blood guilt will be a fugitive until death. No one will support him.
18 If you have integrity, you'll be kept safe, but if you live deviously, you'll fall.
18 Whoever walks blamelessly is kept safe; but one with perverse ways will fall suddenly.
19 If you cultivate the land you'll have plenty of food, but if you chase fantasies you'll end up with nothing.
19 One who works his land will have an abundance of food; but one who chases fantasies will have his fill of poverty.
20 If you're trustworthy, you'll be richly rewarded; but if you try to get rich quick, you won't go unpunished.
20 A faithful man is rich with blessings; but one who is eager to be rich will not go unpunished.
21 Showing favoritism isn't good, but some people will do wrong just for a piece of bread.
21 To show partiality is not good, yet a man will do wrong for a piece of bread.
22 Envious people are in a rush to get rich; they don't realize they'll end up poor.
22 A stingy man hurries after riches, and doesn’t know that poverty waits for him.
23 Honest criticism is appreciated later far more than flattery.
23 One who rebukes a man will afterward find more favor than one who flatters with the tongue.
24 A man who robs his father and mother, and says, “It's not a crime,” is one step away from becoming a murderer.
24 Whoever robs his father or his mother and says, “It’s not wrong,” is a partner with a destroyer.
25 Greedy people stir up trouble, but those who trust in the Lord will be successful.
25 One who is greedy stirs up strife; but one who trusts in Yahweh will prosper.
26 People who trust their own minds are foolish, but those who follow wise ways will be kept safe.
26 One who trusts in himself is a fool; but one who walks in wisdom is kept safe.
27 If you give to the poor, you won't be in need; but if you look the other way, you'll have many curses.
27 One who gives to the poor has no lack; but one who closes his eyes will have many curses.
28 When the wicked come to power, people hide; but when they fall, the good do well.
28 When the wicked rise, men hide themselves; but when they perish, the righteous thrive.
Cross references (28)
Related passages for each verse, from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge as collected and ranked by readers at OpenBible.info.
- 1 Deuteronomy 28:7; Psalm 53:5; Isaiah 26:3–4; Psalm 27:1–2; Psalm 112:7
- 2 1 Kings 16:8–29; Job 22:28–30; Genesis 45:5–8; 1 Kings 15:28; 2 Kings 15:8–31
- 3 Matthew 18:28–30
- 4 Romans 1:32; Ephesians 5:11; Matthew 14:4; Matthew 3:7; 1 Kings 18:18
- 5 James 1:5; Psalm 92:6; 1 John 2:27; 1 John 2:20; John 7:17
- 6 Proverbs 19:1; Luke 16:19–23; Proverbs 28:18; Proverbs 19:22; Proverbs 16:8
- 7 Proverbs 29:3; Proverbs 29:15; 1 Peter 4:3–4; Proverbs 28:24; Proverbs 19:26
- 8 Job 27:16–17; Proverbs 13:22; Ecclesiastes 2:26; Exodus 22:25; Leviticus 25:36
- 9 Psalm 66:18; 2 Timothy 4:3–4; Zechariah 7:11–13; Proverbs 15:8; Psalm 109:7
- 10 Proverbs 26:27; Psalm 37:25–26; Psalm 7:15–16; Proverbs 15:6; Psalm 37:11
- 11 Proverbs 18:17; Ecclesiastes 9:15–17; Proverbs 26:16; Proverbs 19:1; Romans 12:16
- 12 Proverbs 29:2; Proverbs 11:10; Proverbs 28:28; Esther 8:15–17; Job 29:11–20
- 13 1 John 1:8–10; Psalm 32:3–5; Job 31:33; Luke 15:18–24; Jeremiah 3:12–13
- 14 Proverbs 23:17; Psalm 2:11; Isaiah 66:2; Romans 11:20; Jeremiah 32:40
- 15 1 Peter 5:8; Matthew 2:16; Exodus 1:22; Proverbs 19:12; Proverbs 20:2
- 16 Exodus 18:21; Jeremiah 22:15–17; 1 Kings 12:14; 1 Kings 12:10; Isaiah 33:15–16
- 17 Genesis 9:6; Exodus 21:14; 1 Kings 21:19; Numbers 35:14–34; Acts 28:4
- 18 Proverbs 10:9; Proverbs 28:6; Revelation 3:3; Psalm 84:11; Proverbs 11:3–6
- 19 Proverbs 12:11; Judges 9:4; Proverbs 27:23–27; Proverbs 13:20; Proverbs 14:4
- 20 Luke 16:10–12; Proverbs 13:11; Revelation 2:10; Proverbs 10:6; Psalm 112:4–9
- 21 Proverbs 24:23; Ezekiel 13:19; Proverbs 18:5; Exodus 23:2; Micah 3:5
- 22 Proverbs 23:6; 1 Timothy 6:9; Proverbs 28:20; Matthew 20:15; Job 27:16–17
- 23 Proverbs 27:5–6; Matthew 18:15; Psalm 141:5; 2 Peter 3:15–16; 2 Samuel 12:7
- 24 Proverbs 18:9; Proverbs 19:26; Matthew 15:4–6; Proverbs 28:7; Judges 17:2
- 25 Proverbs 11:25; 1 Timothy 6:6; Proverbs 13:4; Proverbs 13:10; Proverbs 29:25
- 26 Proverbs 3:5; Jeremiah 17:9; Job 28:28; Romans 8:7; James 1:5
- 27 Proverbs 19:17; Proverbs 11:24; Psalm 41:1–3; Deuteronomy 15:7; Psalm 112:5–9
- 28 Proverbs 29:2; Proverbs 28:12; Job 24:4; Acts 12:23–24; Esther 8:17
Cross references: OpenBible.info (CC BY), drawn mainly from the public-domain Treasury of Scripture Knowledge. · Sources & licences
What the Fathers said
Passages from the Church Fathers that expound or quote this chapter, verbatim from the public-domain Schaff edition (19th-century English translations).
How these were chosen
“Commentary” is the opening of a homily or exposition on this chapter (John Chrysostom’s homilies, Augustine’s tractates, sermons and expositions of the Psalms). “Quotes” are sentences where the edition’s own footnotes identify a quotation of a verse here, kept only when the wording matches the verse. Only works whose authorship is not in doubt are used. Psalms follow the Hebrew/English numbering (Augustine numbers them as the Septuagint does: his Psalm 50 is Psalm 51 here).
Or rather even before that loss, no life so wretched as he must live that follows after this; dwelling with continual despondencies, alarms, cares, anxieties; which a certain wise man also was intimating when he said, "The wicked fleeth, when no man is pursuing." For such men tremble at their shadows, suspect their friends, their enemies, their servants, such as …
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 10 (1888)