Chapter 28

¹The wicked man fleeth, when no man pursueth: but the just, bold as a lion, shall be without dread. ²For the sine of the land many are the princes thereof: and for the wisdom of a man, and the knowledge of those things that are said, the life of the prince shall be prolonged. ³A poor man that oppresseth the poor, is like a violent shower, which bringeth a famine. ⁴They that forsake the law, praise the wicked man: they that keep it, are incensed against him. ⁵Evil men think not on judgment: but they that seek after the Lord, take notice of all things. ⁶Better is the poor man walking in his simplicity, than the rich in crooked ways. ⁷He that keepeth the law is a wise son: but he that feedeth gluttons, shameth his father. ⁸He that heapeth together riches by usury and loan, gathereth them for him that will be bountiful to the poor. ⁹He that turneth away his ears from hearing the law, his prayer shall be as abomination. ¹⁰He that deceiveth the just in a wicked way, shall fall in his own destruction: and the upright shall possess his goods. ¹¹The rich man seemeth to himself wise: but the poor man that is prudent shall search him out. ¹²In the joy of the just there is great glory: when the wicked reign, men are ruined. ¹³He that hideth his sins, shall not prosper: but he that shall confess, and forsake them, shall obtain mercy. ¹⁴Blessed is the man that is always fearful: but he that is hardened in mind, shall fall into evil. ¹⁵As a roaring lion, and a hungry bear, so is a wicked prince over the poor people. ¹⁶A prince void of prudence shall oppress many by calumny: but he that hateth covetousness, shall prolong his days. ¹⁷A man that doth violence to the blood of a person, if he flee even to the pit, no man will stay him. ¹⁸He that walketh uprightly, shall be saved: he that is perverse in his ways shall fall at once. ¹⁹He that tilleth his ground, shall be filled with bread: but he that followeth idleness shall be filled with poverty. ²⁰A faithful man shall be much praised: but he that maketh haste to be rich, shall not be innocent. ²¹He that hath respect to a person in judgment, doth not well: such a man even for a morsel of bread forsaketh the truth. ²²A man, that maketh haste to be rich, and envieth others, is ignorant that poverty shall come upon him. ²³He that rebuketh a man, shall afterward find favour with him, more than he that by a flattering tongue deceiveth him. ²⁴He that stealeth any thing from his father, or from his mother: and saith, This is no sin, is the partner of a murderer. ²⁵He that boasteth, and puffeth up himself, stirreth up quarrels: but he that trusteth in the Lord, shall be healed. ²⁶He that trusteth in his own heart, is a fool: but he that walketh wisely, he shall be saved. ²⁷He that giveth to the poor, shall not want: he that despiseth his entreaty, shall suffer indigence. ²⁸When the wicked rise up, men shall hide themselves: when they perish, the lust shall be multiplied.