Proverbs · Majority Standard Bible
Proverbs 28 Majority Standard Bible
Audio: World English Bible (WEB), read by Winfred W. Henson · About the recordings
1 The wicked flee when no one pursues, but the righteous are as bold as a lion.
1 The wicked flee when no one pursues; but the righteous are as bold as a lion.
2 A land in rebellion has many rulers, but a man of understanding and knowledge maintains order.
2 In rebellion, a land has many rulers, but order is maintained by a man of understanding and knowledge.
3 A destitute leader who oppresses the poor is like a driving rain that leaves no food.
3 A needy man who oppresses the poor is like a driving rain which leaves no crops.
4 Those who forsake the law praise the wicked, but those who keep the law resist them.
4 Those who forsake the law praise the wicked; but those who keep the law contend with them.
5 Evil men do not understand justice, but those who seek the LORD comprehend fully.
5 Evil men don’t understand justice; but those who seek Yahweh understand it fully.
6 Better a poor man who walks with integrity than a rich man whose ways are perverse.
6 Better is the poor who walks in his integrity than he who is perverse in his ways, and he is rich.
7 A discerning son keeps the law, but a companion of gluttons disgraces his father.
7 Whoever keeps the law is a wise son; but he who is a companion of gluttons shames his father.
8 He who increases his wealth by interest and usury lays it up for one 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 Whoever turns his ear away from hearing the law, even his prayer is detestable.
9 He who turns away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer is an abomination.
10 He who leads the upright along the path of evil will fall into his own pit, but the blameless will inherit what is good.
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 A rich man is wise in his own eyes, but a poor man with discernment sees through him.
11 The rich man is wise in his own eyes; but the poor who has understanding sees through him.
12 When the righteous triumph, there is great glory, but when the wicked rise, men hide themselves.
12 When the righteous triumph, there is great glory; but when the wicked rise, men hide themselves.
13 He who conceals his sins will not prosper, but whoever confesses and renounces them will find mercy.
13 He who conceals his sins doesn’t prosper, but whoever confesses and renounces them finds mercy.
14 Blessed is the man who is always reverent, but he who hardens his heart falls into trouble.
14 Blessed is the man who always fears; but one who hardens his heart falls into trouble.
15 Like a roaring lion or a charging bear is a wicked ruler over a helpless people.
15 As a roaring lion or a charging bear, so is a wicked ruler over helpless people.
16 A leader who lacks judgment is also a great oppressor, but he who hates dishonest profit will prolong his days.
16 A tyrannical ruler lacks judgment. One who hates ill-gotten gain will have long days.
17 A man burdened by bloodguilt will flee into the Pit; let no one support him.
17 A man who is tormented by blood guilt will be a fugitive until death. No one will support him.
18 He who walks with integrity will be kept safe, but whoever is perverse in his ways will suddenly fall.
18 Whoever walks blamelessly is kept safe; but one with perverse ways will fall suddenly.
19 The one who works his land will have plenty of food, but whoever chases fantasies will have his fill of poverty.
19 One who works his land will have an abundance of food; but one who chases fantasies will have his fill of poverty.
20 A faithful man will abound with blessings, but one eager to be rich will not go unpunished.
20 A faithful man is rich with blessings; but one who is eager to be rich will not go unpunished.
21 To show partiality is not good, yet a man will do wrong for a piece of bread.
21 To show partiality is not good, yet a man will do wrong for a piece of bread.
22 A stingy man hastens after wealth and does not know that poverty awaits him.
22 A stingy man hurries after riches, and doesn’t know that poverty waits for him.
23 He who rebukes a man will later find more favor than one who flatters with his tongue.
23 One who rebukes a man will afterward find more favor than one who flatters with the tongue.
24 He who robs his father or mother, saying, “It is not wrong,” is a companion to the man who destroys.
24 Whoever robs his father or his mother and says, “It’s not wrong,” is a partner with a destroyer.
25 A greedy man stirs up strife, but he who trusts in the LORD will prosper.
25 One who is greedy stirs up strife; but one who trusts in Yahweh will prosper.
26 He who trusts in himself is a fool, but one who walks in wisdom will be safe.
26 One who trusts in himself is a fool; but one who walks in wisdom is kept safe.
27 Whoever gives to the poor will not be in need, but he who hides his eyes will receive 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 themselves; but when they perish, the righteous flourish.
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)