Proverbs 28:5-15

5 Evil men ¹do not understand justice, but those who seek the LORD ² understand it completely.

6 ³Better is a poor man who ⁴walks in his integrity than a rich man who is ⁵crooked in his ways.

7 The one who keeps the law is a son with understanding, but ⁶a companion of gluttons shames his father.

8 Whoever multiplies his wealth ⁷by interest and profit^{[a] 8}gathers it for him who is ⁹generous to the poor.

9 If one turns away his ear from hearing the law, even his ¹⁰prayer is an abomination.

10 Whoever misleads the upright into an evil way ¹¹will fall into his own pit, but the blameless ¹²will have a goodly inheritance.

11 A rich man is wise in his ¹³own eyes, but a poor man who has understanding ¹⁴will find him out.

12 When ¹⁵the righteous triumph, there is great glory, but when ¹⁶the wicked rise, people hide themselves.

13 Whoever ¹⁷conceals his transgressions will not prosper, but he who ¹⁸confesses and forsakes them will obtain mercy.

14 Blessed is the one who ¹⁹fears the LORD always, but whoever ²⁰hardens his heart will fall into calamity.

15 Like ²¹a roaring lion or ²²a charging bear is ²³a wicked ruler over a poor people.

Proverbs 28:5-15 Meaning and Commentary

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.

Cross References

• 1. Psalms 92:6; [John 12:39, 40]
• 2. Psalms 119:100; [John 7:17; 1 Corinthians 2:15; James 1:5; 1 John 2:20, 27]
• 3. Proverbs 19:1
• 4. ver. 18
• 5. ver. 18
• 6. [Proverbs 23:20; Proverbs 29:3]
• 7. Exodus 22:25; Leviticus 25:36
• 8. See Job 27:17
• 9. Proverbs 14:31
• 10. [Psalms 109:7]; See Proverbs 15:8
• 11. See Psalms 7:15
• 12. [Matthew 6:33]
• 13. Proverbs 26:5, 16
• 14. Job 13:9
• 15. Proverbs 11:10
• 16. ver. 28; [Proverbs 29:2; Ecclesiastes 10:5, 6]
• 17. [Job 31:33; Psalms 32:3]; See 1 John 1:8-10
• 18. Psalms 32:5; 1 John 1:9
• 19. Proverbs 23:17; Isaiah 66:2; Philippians 2:12
• 20. See Psalms 95:8
• 21. Proverbs 19:12; 1 Peter 5:8
• 22. [2 Kings 2:24]
• 23. [Ex. 1:14, 16, 22; Matthew 2:16]

Footnotes

• [a]. That is, profit that comes from charging interest to the poor