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Proverbs 28
Contemporary English Version
Proverbs 28
Contemporary English Version
The Law of God Makes Sense
28 Wicked people run away
when no one chases them,
but those who live right
are as brave as lions.
2 In time of civil war
there are many leaders,
but a sensible leader
restores law and order.[a]
3 When someone poor takes over
and mistreats the poor,
it's like a heavy rain
destroying the crops.
4 Lawbreakers praise criminals,
but law-abiding citizens
always oppose them.
5 Criminals don't know
what justice means,
but all who respect the Lord
understand it completely.
6 It's better to be poor
and live right,
than to be rich
and dishonest.
7 It makes good sense
to obey the Law of God,
but you disgrace your parents
if you make friends
with worthless nobodies.
8 If you make money by charging
high interest rates,
you will lose it all to someone
who cares for the poor.
9 God cannot stand the prayers
of anyone who disobeys
his Law.
10 By leading good people to sin,
you dig a pit for yourself,
but all who live right
will have a bright future.
11 The rich think highly
of themselves,
but anyone poor and sensible
sees right through them.
12 When an honest person wins,
it's time to celebrate;
when crooks are in control,
it's best to hide.
13 If you don't confess your sins,
you will be a failure.
But God will be merciful
if you confess your sins
and give them up.
14 The Lord blesses everyone
who is afraid to do evil,
but if you are cruel,
you will end up in trouble.
15 A ruler who mistreats the poor
is like a roaring lion
or a bear hunting for food.
16 A heartless leader is a fool,
but anyone who refuses
to get rich by cheating others
will live a long time.
17 Don't give help to murderers!
Make them stay on the run
for as long as they live.[b]
18 Honesty will keep you safe,
but everyone who is crooked
will suddenly fall.
19 Work hard, and you will have
a lot of food;
waste time, and you will have
a lot of trouble.
20 God blesses his loyal people,
but punishes all who want
to get rich quick.
21 It isn't right to be unfair,
but some people can be bribed
with only a piece of bread.
22 Don't be selfish
and eager to get rich—
you will end up worse off
than you can imagine.
23 Honest correction
is appreciated
more than flattery.
24 If you cheat your parents
and don't think it's wrong,
you are a common thief.
25 Selfish people cause trouble,
but you will live a full life
if you trust the Lord.
26 Only fools would trust
what they alone think,
but if you live by wisdom,
you will do all right.
27 Giving to the poor
will keep you from poverty,
but if you close your eyes
to their needs,
everyone will curse you.
28 When crooks are in control,
everyone tries to hide,
but when they lose power,
good people are everywhere.
Proverbs 28
New International Version
Proverbs 28
New International Version
2 When a country is rebellious, it has many rulers,
but a ruler with discernment and knowledge maintains order.
3 A ruler[a] who oppresses the poor
is like a driving rain that leaves no crops.
4 Those who forsake instruction praise the wicked,
but those who heed it resist them.
5 Evildoers do not understand what is right,
but those who seek the Lord understand it fully.
6 Better the poor whose walk is blameless
than the rich whose ways are perverse.(D)
7 A discerning son heeds instruction,
but a companion of gluttons disgraces his father.(E)
8 Whoever increases wealth by taking interest(F) or profit from the poor
amasses it for another,(G) who will be kind to the poor.(H)
9 If anyone turns a deaf ear to my instruction,
even their prayers are detestable.(I)
10 Whoever leads the upright along an evil path
will fall into their own trap,(J)
but the blameless will receive a good inheritance.
11 The rich are wise in their own eyes;
one who is poor and discerning sees how deluded they are.
12 When the righteous triumph, there is great elation;(K)
but when the wicked rise to power, people go into hiding.(L)
13 Whoever conceals their sins(M) does not prosper,
but the one who confesses(N) and renounces them finds mercy.(O)
14 Blessed is the one who always trembles before God,
but whoever hardens their heart falls into trouble.
15 Like a roaring lion or a charging bear
is a wicked ruler over a helpless people.
16 A tyrannical ruler practices extortion,
but one who hates ill-gotten gain will enjoy a long reign.
17 Anyone tormented by the guilt of murder
will seek refuge(P) in the grave;
let no one hold them back.
18 The one whose walk is blameless is kept safe,(Q)
but the one whose ways are perverse will fall(R) into the pit.[b]
19 Those who work their land will have abundant food,
but those who chase fantasies will have their fill of poverty.(S)
20 A faithful person will be richly blessed,
but one eager to get rich will not go unpunished.(T)
22 The stingy are eager to get rich
and are unaware that poverty awaits them.(X)
23 Whoever rebukes a person will in the end gain favor
rather than one who has a flattering tongue.(Y)
24 Whoever robs their father or mother(Z)
and says, “It’s not wrong,”
is partner to one who destroys.(AA)
27 Those who give to the poor will lack nothing,(AF)
but those who close their eyes to them receive many curses.(AG)
28 When the wicked rise to power, people go into hiding;(AH)
but when the wicked perish, the righteous thrive.
Footnotes
- Proverbs 28:3 Or A poor person
- Proverbs 28:18 Syriac (see Septuagint); Hebrew into one
Contemporary English Version (CEV) 
Copyright © 1995 by American Bible Society For more information about CEV, visit www.bibles.com and www.cev.bible.
New International Version (NIV) 
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NIV Reverse Interlinear Bible: English to Hebrew and English to Greek. Copyright © 2019 by Zondervan.