Proverbs

28 Wrong-doers run with nobody chasing them,

but an honest man is as fearless as a two-year-old lion.

2 By demoralization in a country dissensions are numerous,

but a sagacious man will extinguish them.

3** Aggrandizement of a chief and no rights for poor men

is a pounding rain and no crop.

4 Men who give up sound doctrine praise wrong-doers,

but men who are careful of sound doctrine oppose them.

5 Bad men have no insight into justice,

but those who seek Jehovah have insight into everything.

6 Better a poor man leading a conscientious life

than a man of crooked courses, he being rich.

7 One who keeps sound doctrine is a sensible son,

but one who cultivates gormandizers humiliates his father.

8 One who increases his capital by interest and bonus

is gathering for one who will do favors for poor men.

9 If one takes his ear away from hearing sound doctrine

his very prayer is an abomination.

10 One who misleads upright men into a bad course

will himself fall into his pitfall,

but conscientious men will come in for good.

11 A rich man thinks he is wise,

but an intelligent poor man will see through him.

12 When honest men are celebrating a triumph

plenty of finery is on parade;

But when rogues come to the top

people wear old clothes.

13 One who is covering up his offenses will not succeed;

but one who acknowledges them and leaves them off will meet with clemency.

14* Happy a man who is always apprehensive;

but one who stiffens up his heart will fall into disaster.

15 An unscrupulous ruler over a poor people

is a growling lion and a ravenous bear.

16** A regent who is deficient in insight will be plentiful in injustices;

but one who hates jobbery will have a long life.

17 A man outlawed for bloodshed

is to be a fugitive till he comes to the Pit; they are not to hold

him up.

18* One who walks conscientiously will be saved,

but a man of crooked courses will fall into a pitfall.

19 One who works his ground will have plenty of bread;

but one who runs after unpractical things will have plenty of poverty.

20 A man of faithful dealing will have many blessings,

but one who is in a hurry to get rich will not be held innocent.

21 Favoritism is not a good thing,

and a man may offend on account of a bit of bread.

22 A stingy man is absorbed in property

and does not know it is want that is coming to him.

23 One who reproves men will subsequently find more gratitude

than a smooth-tongued person.

24 One who steals from his father and mother

and says it is no crime

is a mate for a ravager.

25 A man of excessive appetite starts quarrels,

but one who trusts in Jehovah will be given plenty of oil.

26* One who trusts to his own ideas is a fool,

but one who goes by wisdom will come off safe.

27 He who gives to the poor man has no shortage;

but he who ignores him has plenty of curses.

28 When rogues come to the top, people take cover;

but when they perish, honest men grow plentiful.