Proverbs 28:4-14

4 Those who forsake the law 1praise the wicked, but those who keep the law 2strive against them.
5 Evil men 3do not understand justice, but those who seek the LORD 4 understand it completely.
6 5Better is a poor man who 6walks in his integrity than a rich man who is 7crooked in his ways.
7 The one who keeps the law is a son with understanding, but 8a companion of gluttons shames his father.
8 Whoever multiplies his wealth 9by interest and profit[a] 10gathers it for him who is 11generous to the poor.
9 If one turns away his ear from hearing the law, even his 12prayer is an abomination.
10 Whoever misleads the upright into an evil way 13will fall into his own pit, but the blameless 14will have a goodly inheritance.
11 A rich man is wise in his 15own eyes, but a poor man who has understanding 16will find him out.
12 When 17the righteous triumph, there is great glory, but when 18the wicked rise, people hide themselves.
13 Whoever 19conceals his transgressions will not prosper, but he who 20confesses and forsakes them will obtain mercy.
14 Blessed is the one who 21fears the LORD always, but whoever 22hardens his heart will fall into calamity.

Cross References 22

  • 1. Psalms 10:3; Romans 1:32
  • 2. [1 Kings 18:18, 21; Nehemiah 13:11, 15; Matthew 3:7; Matthew 14:4; Ephesians 5:11]
  • 3. Psalms 92:6; [John 12:39, 40]
  • 4. Psalms 119:100; [John 7:17; 1 Corinthians 2:15; James 1:5; 1 John 2:20, 27]
  • 5. Proverbs 19:1
  • 6. ver. 18
  • 7. ver. 18
  • 8. [Proverbs 23:20; Proverbs 29:3]
  • 9. Exodus 22:25; Leviticus 25:36
  • 10. See Job 27:17
  • 11. Proverbs 14:31
  • 12. [Psalms 109:7]; See Proverbs 15:8
  • 13. See Psalms 7:15
  • 14. [Matthew 6:33]
  • 15. Proverbs 26:5, 16
  • 16. Job 13:9
  • 17. Proverbs 11:10
  • 18. ver. 28; [Proverbs 29:2; Ecclesiastes 10:5, 6]
  • 19. [Job 31:33; Psalms 32:3]; See 1 John 1:8-10
  • 20. Psalms 32:5; 1 John 1:9
  • 21. Proverbs 23:17; Isaiah 66:2; Philippians 2:12
  • 22. See Psalms 95:8

Footnotes 1

  • [a]. That is, profit that comes from charging interest to the poor
The English Standard Version is published with the permission of Good News Publishers.