Proverbs 28

Warnings and Instructions

1 The wicked ¹flee when no one is pursuing, But the righteous are bold as a lion.

2 By the transgression of a land ²many are its princes, But ³by a man of understanding and knowledge, so it endures.

3 A ⁴poor man who oppresses the lowly Is like a driving rain which leaves no food.

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

5 Evil men ⁷do not understand justice, But those who seek the LORD ⁸understand all things.

6 ⁹Better is the poor who walks in his integrity Than he who is crooked * though he be rich.

7 He who keeps the law is a discerning son, But he who is a companion of ¹⁰gluttons humiliates his father.

8 He who increases his wealth by ¹¹interest and usury Gathers it ¹²for him who is gracious to the poor.

9 He who turns away his ear from listening to the law, Even his ¹³prayer is an abomination.

10 He who leads the upright astray in an evil way Will ¹⁴himself fall into his own pit, But the ¹⁵blameless will inherit good.

11 The rich man is ¹⁶wise in his own eyes, But the poor who has understanding sees through him.

12 When the ¹⁷righteous triumph, there is great glory, But ¹⁸when the wicked rise, men hide themselves.

13 He who ¹⁹conceals his transgressions will not prosper, But he who ²⁰confesses and forsakes them will find compassion.

14 How blessed is the man who ²¹fears always, But he who ²²hardens his heart will fall into calamity.

15 Like a ²³roaring lion and a rushing bear Is a ²⁴wicked ruler over a poor people.

16 A ²⁵leader who is a great oppressor lacks understanding, But he who hates unjust gain will prolong his days.

17 A man who is ²⁶laden with the guilt of human blood Will be a fugitive until death; let no one support him.

18 He who walks blamelessly will be delivered, But he who is ²⁷crooked * will fall all at once.

19 ²⁸He who tills his land will ²⁹have plenty of food, But he who follows empty pursuits will have poverty in plenty.

20 A ³⁰faithful man will abound with blessings, But he who ³¹makes haste to be rich will not go unpunished.

21 To ³²show partiality * is not good, ³³Because for a piece of bread a man will transgress.

22 A man with an ³⁴evil eye ³⁵hastens after wealth And does not know that want will come upon him.

23 He who ³⁶rebukes a man will afterward find more favor Than he who ³⁷flatters with the tongue.

24 He who ³⁸robs his father or his mother And says, "It is not a transgression," Is the ³⁹companion of a man who destroys.

25 An arrogant man ⁴⁰stirs up strife, But he who ⁴¹trusts in the LORD ⁴²will prosper.

26 He who ⁴³trusts in his own heart is a fool, But he who walks wisely will be delivered.

27 He who ⁴⁴gives to the poor will never want, But he who shuts his eyes will have many curses.

28 When the wicked rise, men hide themselves; But when they perish, the righteous increase.

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.

Cross References

• 1. Leviticus 26:17, 36; Psalms 53:5
• 2. 1 Kings 16:8-28; 2 Kings 15:8-15
• 3. Proverbs 11:11
• 4. Matthew 18:28
• 5. Psalms 49:18; Romans 1:32
• 6. 1 Kings 18:18; Nehemiah 13:11, 15; Matthew 3:7; Matthew 14:4; Ephesians 5:11
• 7. Psalms 92:6; Isaiah 6:9; Isaiah 44:18
• 8. Psalms 119:100; Proverbs 2:9; John 7:17; 1 Corinthians 2:15; 1 John 2:20, 27
• 9. Proverbs 19:1
• 10. Proverbs 23:20
• 11. Exodus 22:25; Leviticus 25:36
• 12. Job 27:17; Proverbs 13:22; Proverbs 14:31
• 13. Psalms 66:18; Psalms 109:7; Proverbs 15:8; Proverbs 21:27
• 14. Psalms 7:15; Proverbs 26:27
• 15. Matthew 6:33; Hebrews 6:12; 1 Peter 3:9
• 16. Proverbs 3:7; Proverbs 26:5, 12
• 17. Proverbs 11:10; Proverbs 29:2
• 18. Proverbs 28:28; Ecclesiastes 10:5, 6
• 19. Job 31:33; Psalms 32:3
• 20. Psalms 32:5; 1 John 1:9
• 21. Proverbs 23:17
• 22. Psalms 95:8; Romans 2:5
• 23. Proverbs 19:12; 1 Peter 5:8
• 24. Exodus 1:14; Proverbs 29:2; Matthew 2:16
• 25. Ecclesiastes 10:16; Isaiah 3:12
• 26. Genesis 9:6; Exodus 21:14
• 27. Proverbs 10:27
• 28. Proverbs 12:11
• 29. Proverbs 20:13
• 30. Proverbs 10:6; Matthew 24:45; Matthew 25:21
• 31. Proverbs 20:21; Proverbs 28:22; 1 Timothy 6:9
• 32. Proverbs 24:23
• 33. Ezekiel 13:19
• 34. Proverbs 23:6
• 35. Proverbs 21:5
• 36. Proverbs 27:5, 6
• 37. Proverbs 29:5
• 38. Proverbs 19:26
• 39. Proverbs 18:9
• 40. Proverbs 15:18
• 41. Proverbs 29:25; 1 Timothy 6:6
• 42. Proverbs 11:25
• 43. Proverbs 3:5
• 44. Proverbs 11:24; Proverbs 19:17

Footnotes

• [a]. Lit "confident"
• [b]. Lit "and there is no bread"
• [c]. Lit "perverse of two ways"
• [d]. Lit "examines him"
• [e]. Lit "will be searched for"
• [f]. Lit "flee to the pit"
• [g]. Lit "perverse of two ways"
• [h]. Lit "regard the face"
• [i]. Lit "broad soul"
• [j]. Lit "be made fat"
• [k]. Lit "hides"

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.