Proverbs 28 – NIVUK & NIRV

New International Version – UK

Proverbs 28:1-28

1The wicked flee though no-one pursues,

but the righteous are as bold as a lion.

2When a country is rebellious, it has many rulers,

but a ruler with discernment and knowledge maintains order.

3A ruler28:3 Or A poor person who oppresses the poor

is like driving rain that leaves no crops.

4Those who forsake instruction praise the wicked,

but those who heed it resist them.

5Evildoers do not understand what is right,

but those who seek the Lord understand it fully.

6Better the poor whose way of life is blameless

than the rich whose ways are perverse.

7A discerning son heeds instruction,

but a companion of gluttons disgraces his father.

8Whoever increases wealth by taking interest or profit from the poor

amasses it for another, who will be kind to the poor.

9If anyone turns a deaf ear to my instruction,

even their prayers are detestable.

10Whoever leads the upright along an evil path

will fall into their own trap,

but the blameless will receive a good inheritance.

11The rich are wise in their own eyes;

one who is poor and discerning sees how deluded they are.

12When the righteous triumph, there is great elation;

but when the wicked rise to power, people go into hiding.

13Whoever conceals their sins does not prosper,

but the one who confesses and renounces them finds mercy.

14Blessed is the one who always trembles before God,

but whoever hardens their heart falls into trouble.

15Like a roaring lion or a charging bear

is a wicked ruler over a helpless people.

16A tyrannical ruler practises extortion,

but one who hates ill-gotten gain will enjoy a long reign.

17Anyone tormented by the guilt of murder

will seek refuge in the grave;

let no-one hold them back.

18The one whose way of life is blameless is kept safe,

but the one whose ways are perverse will fall into the pit.28:18 Syriac (see Septuagint); Hebrew into one

19Those who work their land will have abundant food,

but those who chase fantasies will have their fill of poverty.

20A faithful person will be richly blessed,

but one eager to get rich will not go unpunished.

21To show partiality is not good –

yet a person will do wrong for a piece of bread.

22The stingy are eager to get rich

and are unaware that poverty awaits them.

23Whoever rebukes a person will in the end gain favour

rather than one who has a flattering tongue.

24Whoever robs their father or mother

and says, ‘It’s not wrong,’

is partner to one who destroys.

25The greedy stir up conflict,

but those who trust in the Lord will prosper.

26Those who trust in themselves are fools,

but those who walk in wisdom are kept safe.

27Those who give to the poor will lack nothing,

but those who close their eyes to them receive many curses.

28When the wicked rise to power, people go into hiding;

but when the wicked perish, the righteous thrive.

New International Reader’s Version

Proverbs 28:1-28

1Sinners run away even when no one is chasing them.

But those who do what is right are as bold as lions.

2A country has many rulers when its people don’t obey.

But an understanding ruler knows how to keep order.

3A ruler who treats poor people badly

is like a pounding rain that leaves no crops.

4Those who turn away from instruction praise sinners.

But those who learn from it oppose them.

5Sinful people don’t understand what is right.

But those who worship the Lord understand it completely.

6It is better to be poor and live without blame

than to be rich and follow a crooked path.

7A child who understands what is right learns from instruction.

But a child who likes to eat too much brings shame on his father.

8Someone might get rich by taking interest or profit from poor people.

But that person only piles up wealth for someone who will be kind to poor people.

9If you don’t pay attention to my instruction,

even your prayers are hated.

10Those who lead honest people down an evil path

will fall into their own trap.

But those who are without blame

will receive good things.

11Rich people may think they are wise.

But a poor person with understanding knows that rich people are fooling themselves.

12When godly people win, everyone is very happy.

But when sinners take charge, everyone hides.

13Anyone who hides their sins doesn’t succeed.

But anyone who admits their sins and gives them up finds mercy.

14Blessed is the one who always trembles in front of God.

But anyone who makes their heart stubborn will get into trouble.

15An evil person who rules over helpless people

is like a roaring lion or an angry bear.

16A ruler who is mean to his people takes money from them by force.

But one who hates money gained in the wrong way will rule a long time.

17Anyone troubled by the guilt of murder

will seek to escape their guilt by death.

No one should keep them from it.

18Anyone who lives without blame is kept safe.

But anyone whose path is crooked will fall into the pit.

19Those who work their land will have plenty of food.

But those who chase dreams will be very poor.

20A faithful person will be richly blessed.

But anyone who wants to get rich will be punished.

21Favoring one person over another is not good.

But a person will do wrong for a piece of bread.

22Those who won’t share what they have want to get rich.

They don’t know they are going to be poor.

23It is better to warn a person than to pretend to praise them.

In the end that person will be more pleased with you.

24Anyone who steals from their parents and says, “It’s not wrong,”

is just like someone who destroys.

25People who always want more stir up conflict.

But those who trust in the Lord will succeed.

26Those who trust in themselves are foolish.

But those who live wisely are kept safe.

27Those who give to poor people will have all they need.

But those who close their eyes to the poor will receive many curses.

28When those who are evil take charge, other people hide.

But when those who are evil die, godly people grow stronger.