Proverbs 28

1 The wicked flee, but no one pursues, but the righteous is bold like a lion.

2 By the rebellion of a land, her rulers increase, but by a person of intelligence who knows justice, it will last.

3 A man [who is] poor and oppresses the impoverished [is] a beating rain {that leaves} no food.

4 Those who forsake instruction will praise the wicked, but they who guard instruction will struggle against them.

5 Men of evil do not understand justice, but seekers of Yahweh understand completely.

6 Better [to be] poor and walking in one's integrity than to be crooked of ways when one [is] rich.

7 He who keeps instruction [is] a child of understanding, but the companion of gluttons will shame his father.

8 He who augments his wealth with interest and with usury gathers it for him who is kind to the poor.

9 He who turns his ear from listening to instruction, even his prayer [is] an abomination.

10 He who misleads the upright onto the way of evil, into his pits he will fall. But as for the blameless, they will inherit good.

11 A man of wealth [is] wise in his own eyes, but the intelligent poor sees through him.

12 When the righteous triumphs, great [is] the glory, but with [the] rising of the wicked, a person will be hidden.

13 He who conceals his transgression will not prosper, but he who confesses and forsakes will obtain mercy.

14 Happy is the person who fears continuously, but he who is stubborn of heart, will fall into calamity.

15 [Like] a roaring lion and a charging bear [is] a wicked ruler over a poor people.

16 A ruler who lacks understanding is a cruel oppressor, [but] those who hate unjust gain will have long days.

17 A person who is burdened with [the] blood of {another}, until death he will flee; do not take hold of him.

18 He who walks in integrity will be safe, but he who takes crooked paths will fall in one.

19 He who tills his ground will have plenty bread, but he who follows fantasies will have plenty [of] poverty.

20 A man of faithfulness [has] abundant blessings, but he who hurries to become rich will not go unpunished.

21 {Showing partiality} [is] not good, and over a morsel of bread, a strong man will do wrong.

22 He who hurries for wealth is {a man with an evil eye}, but he does not know that poverty will come upon him.

23 He who rebukes a person will afterward find [more] favor than he who flatters [with the] tongue.

24 He who robs his father and his mother and says, "There is no crime," is partner to a man who corrupts.

25 The {greedy person} will stir up strife, but he who trusts in Yahweh will be enriched.

26 He who trusts in his own heart is a fool, but he who walks in wisdom will be saved.

27 [For] he who gives to the poor, there is no lacking, but [for] he who turns his eyes, [there are] many curses.

28 With [the] rising of the wicked, humankind will be hidden, and with their perishing, [the] righteous will multiply.

Proverbs 28 Commentary

Chapter 28

Verse 1 Sin makes men cowards. Whatever difficulties the righteous meet in the way of duty, they are not daunted. Verse 2 . National sins disturb the public repose. Verse 3 . If needy persons get opportunities of oppressing, their extortion will be more severe than that of the more wealthy. Verse 4 . Wicked people strengthen one another in wicked ways. Verse 5 . If a man seeks the Lord, it is a good sign that he understands much, and it is a good means of understanding more. Verse 6 . An honest, godly, poor man, is better than a wicked, ungodly, rich man; has more comfort in himself, and is a greater blessing to the world. Verse 7 . Companions of riotous men not only grieve their parents, but shame them. Verse 8 . That which is ill got, though it may increase much, will not last long. Thus the poor are repaid, and God is glorified. Verse 9 . The sinner at whose prayers God is angry, is one who obstinately refuses to obey God's commands. Verse 10 . The success of ungodly men is their own misery. Verse 11 . Rich men are so flattered, that they think themselves superior to others. Verse 12 . There is glory in the land when the righteous have liberty. Verse 13 . It is folly to indulge sin, and excuse it. He who covers his sins, shall not have any true peace. He who humbly confesses his sins, with true repentance and faith, shall find mercy from God. The Son of God is our great atonement. Under a deep sense of our guilt and danger, we may claim salvation from that mercy which reigns through righteousness unto eternal life, by Jesus Christ our Lord. Verse 14 . There is a fear which causes happiness. Faith and love will deliver from the fear of eternal misery; but we should always fear offending God, and fear sinning against him. Verse 15 . A wicked ruler, whatever we may call him, this scripture calls a roaring lion, and a ranging bear. Verse 16 . Oppressors want understanding; they do not consult their own honour, ease, and safety. Verse 17 . The murderer shall be haunted with terrors. None shall desire to save him from deserved punishment, nor pity him. Verse 18 . Uprightness will give men holy security in the worst times; but the false and dishonest are never safe. Verse 19 . Those who are diligent, take the way to live comfortably. Verse 20 . The true way to be happy, is to be holy and honest; not to raise an estate suddenly, without regard to right or wrong. Verse 21 . Judgment is perverted, when any thing but pure right is considered. Verse 22 . He that hastens to be rich, never seriously thinks how quickly God may take his wealth from him, and leave him in poverty. Verse 23 . Upon reflection, most will have a better opinion of a faithful reprover than of a soothing flatterer. Verse 24 . Here is the wickedness of those who think it no sin to rob their parents, by wheedling them or threatening them, or by wasting what they have, and running into debt. Verse 25 . Those make themselves always easy, that live in continual dependence upon God and his grace, and live by faith. Verse 26 . A fool trusts to his own strength, merit, and righteousness. And trusts to his own heart, which is not only deceitful above all things, but which has often deceived him. Verse 27 . A selfish man not only will not look out for objects of compassion, but will look off from those that call for his attention. Verse 28 . When power is put into the hands of the wicked, wise men decline public business. If the reader will go diligently over this and the other chapters, in many places where at first he may suppose there is least of Christ, still he will find what will lead to him.

Footnotes

• [a]. Literally "and there is"
• [b]. Or "everything"
• [c]. Or "mind"
• [d]. Hebrew "and"
• [e]. Or "prolong"
• [f]. Literally "life"
• [g]. Literally "Recognizing faces"
• [h]. Literally "a man of evil of eye"
• [i]. Literally "wide soul"
• [j]. Or "mind," or "sense"
• [k]. Hebrew "those"

Chapter Summary

INTRODUCTION TO 1 KINGS 15

In this chapter we have a short history of the reign of Abijam, 1Ki 15:1-8 and of Asa, 1Ki 14:9-24, both kings of Judah; and of the reigns of Nadab the son of Jeroboam, and of Baasha, who destroyed his family, both kings of Israel, 1Ki 15:25-34.