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 have fled and there is no pursuer. And the righteous as a young lion is confident.

2 By the transgression of a land many [are] its heads. And by an intelligent man, Who knoweth right -- it is prolonged.

3 A man -- poor and oppressing the weak, [Is] a sweeping rain, and there is no bread.

4 Those forsaking the law praise the wicked, Those keeping the law plead against them.

5 Evil men understand not judgment, And those seeking Jehovah understand all.

6 Better [is] the poor walking in his integrity, Than the perverse of ways who is rich.

7 Whoso is keeping the law is an intelligent son, And a friend of gluttons, Doth cause his father to blush.

8 Whoso is multiplying his wealth by biting and usury, For one favouring the poor doth gather it.

9 Whoso is turning his ear from hearing the law, Even his prayer [is] an abomination.

10 Whoso is causing the upright to err in an evil way, Into his own pit he doth fall, And the perfect do inherit good.

11 A rich man is wise in his own eyes, And the intelligent poor searcheth him.

12 In the exulting of the righteous the glory [is] abundant, And in the rising of the wicked man is apprehensive.

13 Whoso is covering his transgressions prospereth not, And he who is confessing and forsaking hath mercy.

14 O the happiness of a man fearing continually, And whoso is hardening his heart falleth into evil.

15 A growling lion, and a ranging bear, [Is] the wicked ruler over a poor people.

16 A leader lacking understanding multiplieth oppressions, Whoso is hating dishonest gain prolongeth days.

17 A man oppressed with the blood of a soul, Unto the pit fleeth, none taketh hold on him.

18 Whoso is walking uprightly is saved, And the perverted of ways falleth at once.

19 Whoso is tilling his ground is satisfied [with] bread, And whoso is pursuing vanity, Is filled [with] poverty.

20 A stedfast man hath multiplied blessings, And whoso is hasting to be rich is not acquitted.

21 To discern faces is not good, And for a piece of bread doth a man transgress.

22 Troubled for wealth [is] the man [with] an evil eye, And he knoweth not that want doth meet him.

23 Whoso is reproving a man afterwards findeth grace, More than a flatterer with the tongue.

24 Whoso is robbing his father, or his mother, And is saying, `It is not transgression,` A companion he is to a destroyer.

25 Whoso is proud in soul stirreth up contention, And whoso is trusting on Jehovah is made fat.

26 Whoso is trusting in his heart is a fool, And whoso is walking in wisdom is delivered.

27 Whoso is giving to the poor hath no lack, And whoso is hiding his eyes multiplied curses.

28 In the rising of the wicked a man is hidden, And in their destruction the righteous multiply!