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.

1The wicked flee when no man pursueth: but the righteous are bolde as a lyon.

2For the transgression of a land, many are the princes thereof: but by a man of vnderstanding and knowledge the state thereof shall bee prolonged.

3A poore man that oppresseth the poore, is like a sweeping raine which leaueth no food.

4They that forsake the law, praise the wicked: but such as keepe the Law, contend with them.

5Euill men vnderstand not iudgement: but they that seeke the Lord, vnderstand all things.

6Better is the poore that walketh in his vprightnesse, then he that is peruerse in his wayes, though he be rich.

7Whoso keepeth the law, is a wise sonne: but he that is a companion of riotous men, shameth his father.

8He that by vsurie and vniust gaine increaseth his substance, he shall gather it for him that wil pity the poore.

9He that turneth away his eare from hearing the law, euen his prayer shalbe abomination.

10Who so causeth the righteous to goe astray in an euill way, he shall fall himselfe into his owne pit: but the vpright shall haue good things in possession.

11The rich man is wise in his owne conceit: but the poore that hath vnderstanding searcheth him out.

12When righteous men do reioyce, there is great glory: but when the wicked rise, a man is hidden.

13He that couereth his sinnes, shall not prosper: but who so confesseth and forsaketh them, shall haue mercie.

14Happy is the man that feareth always: but he that hardeneth his heart, shall fall into mischiefe.

15As a roaring lyon and a ranging beare: so is a wicked ruler ouer the poore people.

16The prince that wanteth vnderstanding, is also a great oppressour: but he that hateth couetousnesse, shall prolong his dayes.

17A man that doth violence to the blood of any person, shall flie to the pit, let no man stay him.

18Whoso walketh vprightly, shall be saued: but he that is peruerse in his wayes, shall fall at once.

19He that tilleth his land, shal haue plentie of bread: but he that followeth after vaine persons, shall haue pouerty enough.

20A faithfull man shall abound with blessings: but hee that maketh haste to be rich, shall not be innocent.

21To haue respect of persons, is not good: for, for a piece of bread that man will transgresse.

22He that hasteth to bee rich, hath an euill eye, and considereth not that pouerty shall come vpon him.

23He that rebuketh a man, afterwards shall find more fauour, then he that flattereth with the tongue.

24Who so robbeth his father or his mother, and saith, it is no transgression, the same is the companion of a destroyer.

25He that is of a proud heart, stirreth vp strife: but he that putteth his trust in the Lord, shalbe made fat.

26Hee that trusteth in his owne heart, is a foole: but who so walketh wisely, he shall be deliuered.

27He that giueth vnto the poore, shall not lacke: but he that hideth his eyes, shall haue many a curse.

28When the wicked rise, men hide themselues: but when they perish, the righteous increase.

I == Lev 26:17 , 36 ; Ps 53:5

 

 

III == Matt 18:28

 

 

IV == 1st Kings 18:18 , 21 ; Matt 3:7 14:4

 

V == John 7:17 ; 1st Cor 2:15

 

 

 

VIII == Prov 13:22 ; Eccl 2:26

 

IX == Ps 66:18 ; 109:7 ; Zech 7:11

X == Prov 26:27 ; Matt 6:33

 

 

 

 

 

XIII == Ps 32:3 , 5 ; 1st John 1:8-10

XIV == Ps 16:8 ; Prov 23:17 ; Rom 2:5 ; 11:20

XV == Ex 1:14 , 16 , 22 ; Matt 2:16 ; 1st Peter 5:8

 

 

 

XVII == Gen 9:6 ; Ex 21:14

 

XVIII == Prov 10:9 , 25 , ; 28:6

 

 

XX == Prov 13:11 ; 20:21 ; 23:4 ; 28:22 ; 1st Tim 6:9

XXI == Prov 18:5 ; 24:23 ; Ezek 13:19

XXII == Prov 28:20

 

 

 

 

 

XXV == Prov 13:10 ; 1st Tim 6:6

 

 

XXVII == Deut 15:7 ; Prov 19:17 ; 22:9

XXVIII == Job 24:4 ; Prov 28:12 ; 29:2

1 The wicked man flees although no one pursues him; but the just man, like a lion, feels sure of himself.

2 If a land is rebellious, its princes will be many; but with a prudent man it knows security.

3 A rich man who oppresses the poor is like a devastating rain that leaves no food.

4 Those who abandon the law praise the wicked man, but those who keep the law war against him.

5 Evil men understand nothing of justice, but those who seek the LORD understand all.

6 Better a poor man who walks in his integrity than he who is crooked in his ways and rich.

7 He who keeps the law is a wise son, but the gluttons' companion disgraces his father.

8 He who increases his wealth by interest and overcharge gathers it for him who is kind to the poor.

9 When one turns away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer is an abomination.

10 He who seduces the upright into an evil way will himself fall into his own pit. (And blameless men will gain prosperity.)

11 The rich man is wise in his own eyes, but a poor man who is intelligent sees through him.

12 When the just are triumphant, there is great jubilation; but when the wicked gain preeminence, people hide.

13 He who conceals his sins prospers not, but he who confesses and forsakes them obtains mercy.

14 Happy the man who is always on his guard; but he who hardens his heart will fall into evil.

15 Like a roaring lion or a ravenous bear is a wicked ruler over a poor people.

16 The less prudent the prince, the more his deeds oppress. He who hates ill-gotten gain prolongs his days.

17 Though a man burdened with human blood were to flee to the grave, none should support him.

18 He who walks uprightly is safe, but he whose ways are crooked falls into the pit.

19 He who cultivates his land will have plenty of food, but from idle pursuits a man has his fill of poverty.

20 The trustworthy man will be richly blessed; he who is in haste to grow rich will not go unpunished.

21 To show partiality is never good: for even a morsel of bread a man may do wrong.

22 The avaricious man is perturbed about his wealth, and he knows not when want will come upon him.

23 He who rebukes a man gets more thanks in the end than one with a flattering tongue.

24 He who defrauds father or mother and calls it no sin, is a partner of the brigand.

25 The greedy man stirs up disputes, but he who trusts in the LORD will prosper.

26 He who trusts in himself is a fool, but he who walks in wisdom is safe.

27 He who gives to the poor suffers no want, but he who ignores them gets many a curse.

28 When the wicked gain pre-eminence, other men hide; but at their fall the just flourish.

v 1. But we still need boldness from the Holy Spirit for witnessing etc.

 

 

 

 

v 5-10 emphasize obedience to the law, v 8 especially about interest, see 27:13.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

v 11. The rich may be conceited but a poor man in some ways more wise.

 

v 13,14. It is prudent to confess and forsake sin.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

v 19,20. Be diligent in business, 24:27, but not unscrupulous.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

v 24. Loathsome, but it does happen, especially with inheritance. Also Matt. 7:11.

v 25. Another of many warnings in Proverbs against pride.

 

 

 

 

v 28. Notice how this verse supplements v 12, a problem when wicked men rise.