Proverbs 28

1 A wicked man fleeth, when no man pursueth; but a just man as a lion trusting shall be without fearedfulness. (A wicked person fleeth, when no one pursueth him; but a righteous person shall be without fear, like a trusting lion.)

2 For the sins of the land there be many princes of it; and for the wisdom of a man, and for the knowing of these things that be said, the life of the duke shall be the longer. (For the sins of the land there shall be many leaders of it; but with the wisdom and knowledge of a good ruler, the nation shall endure.)

3 A poor man falsely challenging poor men, is like a great rain, wherein hunger is made ready. (A poor person who oppresseth the poor/A tyrant who oppresseth the poor, is like a great rain that destroyeth the crops.)

4 They that forsake the law, praise the wicked man; they that keep the law, be kindled, or stirred [up], against him. (They who desert the law, praise the wicked; they who keep the law, be kindled, or stirred up, against them.)

5 Wicked men think not on doom; but they that seek the Lord, perceive all things. (The wicked do not think about justice; but they who seek the Lord, understand everything about it/understand it well.)

6 Better is a poor man going in his simpleness, than a rich man in [his] shrewd ways. (Better is a poor person going in his honesty, or in his integrity, than a rich person in all his depraved ways.)

7 He that keepeth the law, is a wise son; but he that feedeth gluttons, shameth his father.

8 He that gathereth together riches by usuries, and free(ly) (made) increases, gathereth those together against poor men. (He who gathereth together riches from high interest rates, and exorbitant increases, gathereth them together for him who will give them to the poor.)

9 His prayer shall be made cursed, that boweth away his ear (who turneth away his ear), (so) that he hear not the law.

10 He that deceiveth just men in an evil way, shall fall in his perishing; and just men shall wield his goods. (He who deceiveth the righteous in an evil way, shall fall in his perishing; and the righteous shall possess his goods.)

11 A rich man seemeth wise to himself; but a poor man prudent shall search him. (A rich person seemeth wise to himself; but a prudent poor person shall search him out, and find him wanting.)

12 In [the] enhancing of just men is much glory; when wicked men reign, fallings of men be. (When the righteous be advanced, or promoted, there is much honour; but when the wicked reign, or rule, there shall be the falling of many people.)

13 He that hideth his great trespasses, shall not be made rightful; but he that acknowledgeth and forsaketh them, shall get mercy. (He who hideth his great trespasses, shall not be made upright; but he who acknowledgeth and abandoneth them, shall get mercy.)

14 Blessed is the man, which is ever dreadful; but he that is of hard heart, shall fall into evil. (Blessed is the person, who is ever fearful of the Lord/who is always reverential toward the Lord; but he who hath a hard heart, shall fall into evil.)

15 A roaring lion, and an hungry bear, is a wicked prince on a poor people. (Like a roaring lion, and a hungry bear, is a wicked ruler over the poor.)

16 A duke needy of prudence shall oppress many men by false challenge; but the days of him that hateth avarice shall be made long.

17 No man sustain a man that falsely challengeth the blood of a man, (even) if he fleeth till to the pit. (Let no one protect someone who oppresseth unto the blood, that is, unto the murder, of another person, yea, let him flee into the pit.)

18 He that goeth simply shall be safe (He who goeth honestly, or with integrity, shall be safe); (but) he that goeth by wayward ways, shall fall down [at] once.

19 He that worketh his land, shall be filled with loaves; he that followeth idleness (but he who is idle, or lazy), shall be filled with neediness.

20 A faithful man shall be praised much; but he that hasteth to be made rich, shall not be innocent. (A faithful person shall be much praised; but he who hasteneth to be made rich, shall not be innocent.)

21 He that knoweth a face in doom, doeth not well; this man forsaketh truth, yea, for a morsel of bread. (He who knoweth the person whom he is judging, doeth wrongly; this person deserteth the truth, yea, for a morsel of bread.)

22 A man that hasteth to be made rich, and hath envy to other men (and hath envy of others), knoweth not that neediness shall come [up]on him.

23 He that reproveth a man, shall find grace afterward with him (He who rebuketh someone, shall find favour afterward with him); more than he that deceiveth by flatterings of (the) tongue.

24 He that withdraweth anything from his father and from his mother, and saith that this is no sin, is partner of a man-queller (is the partner of, or no better than, a murderer).

25 He that avaunteth himself, and alargeth, raiseth up strives; but he that hopeth in the Lord, shall be saved. (He who vaunteth, and enlargeth, himself, raiseth up arguments, or contention; but he who trusteth in the Lord, shall be saved.)

26 He that trusteth in his (own) heart, is a fool; but he that goeth wisely, shall be praised.

27 He that giveth to a poor man, shall not be needy; he that despiseth a poor man beseeching, shall suffer neediness. (He who giveth to the poor, shall not be needy; but he who despiseth the pleading of the poor, shall suffer want, or lack.)

28 When unpious men rise, men shall be hid; and when they have perished, just men shall be multiplied. (When the wicked rise up, people shall be hidden; but when they have perished, the righteous shall be multiplied.)

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.

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.