28 The wicked ^(A)flee when no one is pursuing,
But the righteous are ^[a]bold as a lion.
² Due to a ^[b]wrongdoing of ^[c]a land its leaders are ^(B)many,
But ^(C)by a person of understanding and knowledge, so it endures.
³ A ^(D)poor man who oppresses the helpless
Is like a driving rain ^[d]which leaves no food.
⁴ Those who abandon the Law ^(E)praise the wicked,
But those who keep the Law ^(F)strive against them.
⁵ Evil people ^(G)do not understand justice,
But those who seek the Lord ^(H)understand everything.
^6 (I)Better is a poor person who walks in his integrity,
Than a person who is ^[e]crooked, though he is rich.
⁷ He who keeps the Law is a discerning son,
But he who is a companion of ^(J)gluttons humiliates his father.
⁸ One who increases his wealth by ^[f](K)interest of any kind,
Collects it ^(L)for one who is gracious to the poor.
⁹ One who turns his ear away from listening to the Law,
Even his ^(M)prayer is an abomination.
¹⁰ One who leads the upright astray in an evil way
Will ^(N)himself fall into his own pit,
But the ^(O)blameless will inherit good.
¹¹ The rich person is ^(P)wise in his own eyes,
But the poor who has understanding ^[g]sees through him.
¹² When the ^(Q)righteous triumph, there is great glory,
But ^(R)when the wicked rise, people ^[h]hide themselves.
¹³ One who ^(S)conceals his wrongdoings will not prosper,
But one who ^(T)confesses and abandons them will find compassion.
¹⁴ How blessed is the person who ^(U)fears always,
But one who ^(V)hardens his heart will fall into disaster.
¹⁵ Like a ^(W)roaring lion and a rushing bear
Is a ^(X)wicked ruler over a poor people.
¹⁶ A ^(Y)leader who is a great oppressor lacks understanding,
But a person who hates unjust gain will prolong his days.
¹⁷ A person who is ^(Z)burdened with the guilt of human blood
Will ^[i]be a fugitive until death; no one is to support him!
¹⁸ One who walks blamelessly will receive help,
But one who is ^[j](AA)crooked will fall all at once.
^19 (AB)One who works his land will ^(AC)have plenty of food,
But one who follows empty pursuits will have plenty of poverty.
²⁰ A ^(AD)faithful person will abound with blessings,
But one who ^(AE)hurries to be rich will not go unpunished.
²¹ To ^[k](AF)show partiality is not good,
^(AG)Because for a piece of bread a man will do wrong.
²² A person with an ^(AH)evil eye ^(AI)hurries after wealth
And does not know that poverty will come upon him.
²³ One who ^(AJ)rebukes a person will afterward find more favor
Than one who ^(AK)flatters with the tongue.
²⁴ He who ^(AL)robs his father or his mother
And says, “There is no wrong done,”
Is the ^(AM)companion of a person who destroys.
²⁵ An ^[l]arrogant person ^(AN)stirs up strife,
But one who ^(AO)trusts in the Lord ^(AP)will ^[m]prosper.
²⁶ One who ^(AQ)trusts in his own heart is a fool,
But one who walks wisely will flee to safety.
²⁷ One who ^(AR)gives to the poor will never lack anything,
But one who ^[n]shuts his eyes will have many curses.
²⁸ When the wicked rise, people hide themselves;
But when they perish, the righteous increase.