Proverbs 28:1-16

1 ¹The wicked flee when no one pursues, but ²the righteous are bold as a lion.

2 When a land transgresses, ³it has many rulers, but with a man of understanding and knowledge, its stability will long continue.

3 ⁴A poor man who oppresses the poor is a beating rain that leaves no food.

4 Those who forsake the law ⁵praise the wicked, but those who keep the law ⁶strive against them.

5 Evil men ⁷do not understand justice, but those who seek the LORD ⁸ understand it completely.

6 ⁹Better is a poor man who ¹⁰walks in his integrity than a rich man who is ¹¹crooked in his ways.

7 The one who keeps the law is a son with understanding, but ¹²a companion of gluttons shames his father.

8 Whoever multiplies his wealth ¹³by interest and profit^{[a] 14}gathers it for him who is ¹⁵generous to the poor.

9 If one turns away his ear from hearing the law, even his ¹⁶prayer is an abomination.

10 Whoever misleads the upright into an evil way ¹⁷will fall into his own pit, but the blameless ¹⁸will have a goodly inheritance.

11 A rich man is wise in his ¹⁹own eyes, but a poor man who has understanding ²⁰will find him out.

12 When ²¹the righteous triumph, there is great glory, but when ²²the wicked rise, people hide themselves.

13 Whoever ²³conceals his transgressions will not prosper, but he who ²⁴confesses and forsakes them will obtain mercy.

14 Blessed is the one who ²⁵fears the LORD always, but whoever ²⁶hardens his heart will fall into calamity.

15 Like ²⁷a roaring lion or ²⁸a charging bear is ²⁹a wicked ruler over a poor people.

16 A ruler who ³⁰lacks understanding is a cruel oppressor, but he who hates unjust gain will prolong his days.

Proverbs 28:1-16 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. Leviticus 26:17; Psalms 53:5
• 2. Leviticus 26:8; 1 Samuel 17:32
• 3. [1 Kings 15:27]; See 1 Kings 16:8-28; 2 Kings 15:8-15
• 4. [Matthew 18:28]
• 5. Psalms 10:3; Romans 1:32
• 6. [1 Kings 18:18, 21; Nehemiah 13:11, 15; Matthew 3:7; Matthew 14:4; Ephesians 5:11]
• 7. Psalms 92:6; [John 12:39, 40]
• 8. Psalms 119:100; [John 7:17; 1 Corinthians 2:15; James 1:5; 1 John 2:20, 27]
• 9. Proverbs 19:1
• 10. ver. 18
• 11. ver. 18
• 12. [Proverbs 23:20; Proverbs 29:3]
• 13. Exodus 22:25; Leviticus 25:36
• 14. See Job 27:17
• 15. Proverbs 14:31
• 16. [Psalms 109:7]; See Proverbs 15:8
• 17. See Psalms 7:15
• 18. [Matthew 6:33]
• 19. Proverbs 26:5, 16
• 20. Job 13:9
• 21. Proverbs 11:10
• 22. ver. 28; [Proverbs 29:2; Ecclesiastes 10:5, 6]
• 23. [Job 31:33; Psalms 32:3]; See 1 John 1:8-10
• 24. Psalms 32:5; 1 John 1:9
• 25. Proverbs 23:17; Isaiah 66:2; Philippians 2:12
• 26. See Psalms 95:8
• 27. Proverbs 19:12; 1 Peter 5:8
• 28. [2 Kings 2:24]
• 29. [Ex. 1:14, 16, 22; Matthew 2:16]
• 30. See Proverbs 6:32

Footnotes

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