1 The wicked flee when no man pursueth: but the righteous are bold as a lion. 2 For the transgression of a land many [are] the princes thereof: but by a man of understanding [and] knowledge the state [thereof] shall be prolonged. 3 A poor man that oppresseth the poor [is like] a sweeping rain which leaveth no food. 4 They that forsake the law praise the wicked: but such as keep the law contend with them. 5 Evil men understand not judgment: but they that seek the LORD understand all [things]. 6 Better [is] the poor that walketh in his uprightness, than [he that is] perverse [in his] ways, though he [be] rich. 7 Whoso keepeth the law [is] a wise son: but he that is a companion of riotous [men] shameth his father. 8 He that by usury and unjust gain increaseth his substance, he shall gather it for him that will pity the poor. 9 He that turneth away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer [shall be] abomination. 10 Whoso causeth the righteous to go astray in an evil way, he shall fall himself into his own pit: but the upright shall have good [things] in possession. 11 The rich man [is] wise in his own conceit; but the poor that hath understanding searcheth him out. 12 When righteous [men] do rejoice, [there is] great glory: but when the wicked rise, a man is hidden. 13 He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh [them] shall have mercy. 14 Happy [is] the man that feareth alway: but he that hardeneth his heart shall fall into mischief. 15 [As] a roaring lion, and a ranging bear; [so is] a wicked ruler over the poor people. 16 The prince that wanteth understanding [is] also a great oppressor: [but] he that hateth covetousness shall prolong [his] days. 17 A man that doeth violence to the blood of [any] person shall flee to the pit; let no man stay him. 18 Whoso walketh uprightly shall be saved: but [he that is] perverse [in his] ways shall fall at once. 19 He that tilleth his land shall have plenty of bread: but he that followeth after vain [persons] shall have poverty enough. 20 A faithful man shall abound with blessings: but he that maketh haste to be rich shall not be innocent. 21 To have respect of persons [is] not good: for for a piece of bread [that] man will transgress. 22 He that hasteth to be rich [hath] an evil eye, and considereth not that poverty shall come upon him. 23 He that rebuketh a man afterwards shall find more favour than he that flattereth with the tongue. 24 Whoso robbeth his father or his mother, and saith, [It is] no transgression; the same [is] the companion of a destroyer. 25 He that is of a proud heart stirreth up strife: but he that putteth his trust in the LORD shall be made fat. 26 He that trusteth in his own heart is a fool: but whoso walketh wisely, he shall be delivered. 27 He that giveth unto the poor shall not lack: but he that hideth his eyes shall have many a curse. 28 When the wicked rise, men hide themselves: but when they perish, the righteous increase.
Proverbs · King James Version (with Apocrypha)
Proverbs 28 King James Version (with Apocrypha)
Audio: World English Bible (WEB), read by Winfred W. Henson · About the recordings
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)