1 The wicked flee when no one pursues;

but the righteous are as bold as a lion.

2 In rebellion, a land has many rulers,

but order is maintained by a man of understanding and knowledge.

3 A needy man who oppresses the poor

is like a driving rain which leaves no crops.

4 Those who forsake the law praise the wicked;

but those who keep the law contend with them.

5 Evil men don’t understand justice;

but those who seek Yahweh understand it fully.

6 Better is the poor who walks in his integrity

than he who is perverse in his ways, and he is rich.

7 Whoever keeps the law is a wise son;

but he who is a companion of gluttons shames his father.

8 He who increases his wealth by excessive interest

gathers it for one who has pity on the poor.

9 He who turns away his ear from hearing the law,

even his prayer is an abomination.

10 Whoever causes the upright to go astray in an evil way,

he will fall into his own trap;

but the blameless will inherit good.

11 The rich man is wise in his own eyes;

but the poor who has understanding sees through him.

12 When the righteous triumph, there is great glory;

but when the wicked rise, men hide themselves.

13 He who conceals his sins doesn’t prosper,

but whoever confesses and renounces them finds mercy.

14 Blessed is the man who always fears;

but one who hardens his heart falls into trouble.

15 As a roaring lion or a charging bear,

so is a wicked ruler over helpless people.

16 A tyrannical ruler lacks judgment.

One who hates ill-gotten gain will have long days.

17 A man who is tormented by blood guilt will be a fugitive until death.

No one will support him.

18 Whoever walks blamelessly is kept safe;

but one with perverse ways will fall suddenly.

19 One who works his land will have an abundance of food;

but one who chases fantasies will have his fill of poverty.

20 A faithful man is rich with blessings;

but one who is eager to be rich will not go unpunished.

21 To show partiality is not good,

yet a man will do wrong for a piece of bread.

22 A stingy man hurries after riches,

and doesn’t know that poverty waits for him.

23 One who rebukes a man will afterward find more favor

than one who flatters with the tongue.

24 Whoever robs his father or his mother and says, "It’s not wrong,"

is a partner with a destroyer.

25 One who is greedy stirs up strife;

but one who trusts in Yahweh will prosper.

26 One who trusts in himself is a fool;

but one who walks in wisdom is kept safe.

27 One who gives to the poor has no lack;

but one who closes his eyes will have many curses.

28 When the wicked rise, men hide themselves;

but when they perish, the righteous thrive.

1 The wicked flee when no man pursues, but the righteous are bold as [a] young lion.

2 By the rebellion of the land, many [are] its princes, but by the man of understanding [and] wisdom the [land] shall remain stable.

3 A poor man that oppresses the poor [is like] a sweeping rain which leaves no food.

4 Those that forsake the law praise the wicked, but such as keep the law contend with them.

5 Evil men do not understand judgment, but those that seek the LORD understand all [things].

6 Better [is] the poor that walks in his perfection than [he that is] perverse [in his] ways, though he [is] rich.

7 Whosoever keeps the law [is] a wise son, but he that is a companion of gluttons shames his father.

8 He that by usury and unjust gain increases his substance, he shall gather it for him that will pity the poor.

9 He that turns away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer [shall be] abomination.

10 Whosoever causes the upright to go astray in an evil way, he shall fall himself into his own pit, but the perfect shall inherit [every] good [thing].

11 The rich man [is] wise in his own conceit, but the poor that has understanding is wiser than he.

12 When the righteous rejoice, [there is] great glory, but when the wicked rise, the sane man hides himself.

13 He that covers his sins shall not prosper, but whosoever confesses and forsakes [them] shall attain mercy.

14 Blessed [is] the man that fears [God] always, but he that hardens his heart shall fall into evil.

15 As a roaring lion and a hungry bear, [so is] a wicked ruler over the poor people.

16 The prince void of intelligence [is] also a great oppressor, [but] he that hates covetousness shall prolong [his] days.

17 A man that does violence to the blood of [any] person shall flee all the way to the grave, and no one shall sustain him.

18 Whosoever walks in integrity shall be saved, but [he that is] perverse [in his] ways shall fall into one of them.

19 He that tills his land shall be filled with bread, but he that follows after vain [persons] shall be filled with poverty.

20 The man of truth shall abound with blessings, but he that makes haste to be rich shall not be absolved.

21 To have respect of persons [in judgment] is not good; even for a piece of bread, man will transgress.

22 He that hastens to be rich [has] an evil eye and does not consider that poverty shall come upon him.

23 He that rebukes a man, afterwards shall find more favour than he that flatters with the tongue.

24 Whosoever robs his father or his mother and says, [It is] no transgression; the same [is] the companion of the destroyer.

25 He that is of a proud heart stirs up strife, but he that puts his trust in the LORD shall be made fat.

26 He that trusts in his own heart is a fool, but whosoever walks in wisdom, he shall be saved.

27 He that gives unto the poor shall never lack, but he that hides his eyes [from the poor] shall have many a curse.

28 When the wicked rise, sane men hide themselves; but when they perish, the righteous multiply.: