1 A wicked person flees when no one is chasing him, but righteous people are as bold as lions. 2 When a country is in revolt, it has many rulers, but only with a person who has understanding and knowledge will it last a long time. 3 A poor person who oppresses poorer people is like a driving rain that leaves no food. 4 Those who abandon God's teachings praise wicked people, but those who follow God's teachings oppose wicked people. 5 Evil people do not understand justice, but those who seek the LORD understand everything. 6 Better to be a poor person who has integrity than to be rich and double-dealing. 7 Whoever follows God's teachings is a wise son. Whoever associates with gluttons disgraces his father. 8 Whoever becomes wealthy through unfair loans and interest collects them for the one who is kind to the poor. 9 Surely the prayer of someone who refuses to listen to God's teachings is disgusting. 10 Whoever leads decent people into evil will fall into his own pit, but innocent people will inherit good things. 11 A rich person is wise in his own eyes, but a poor person with understanding sees right through him. 12 When righteous people triumph, there is great glory, but when wicked people rise, people hide themselves. 13 Whoever covers over his sins does not prosper. Whoever confesses and abandons them receives compassion. 14 Blessed is the one who is always fearful of sin, but whoever is hard-hearted falls into disaster. 15 Like a roaring lion and a charging bear, so a wicked ruler is a threat to poor people. 16 A leader without understanding taxes his people heavily, but those who hate unjust gain will live longer. 17 A person burdened with the guilt of murder will be a fugitive down to his grave. No one will help him. 18 Whoever lives honestly will be safe. Whoever lives dishonestly will fall all at once. 19 Whoever works his land will have plenty to eat. Whoever chases unrealistic dreams will have plenty of nothing. 20 A trustworthy person has many blessings, but anyone in a hurry to get rich will not escape punishment. 21 Showing partiality is not good, because some people will turn on you even for a piece of bread. 22 A stingy person is in a hurry to get rich, not realizing that poverty is about to overtake him. 23 Whoever criticizes people will be more highly regarded in the future than the one who flatters with his tongue. 24 The one who robs his father or his mother and says, "It isn't wrong!" is a companion to a vandal. 25 A greedy person stirs up a fight, but whoever trusts the LORD prospers. 26 Whoever trusts his own heart is a fool. Whoever walks in wisdom will survive. 27 Whoever gives to the poor lacks nothing. Whoever ignores the poor receives many curses. 28 When wicked people rise, people hide. When they die, righteous people increase. GOD'S WORD® is a copyrighted work of God's Word to the Nations. Quotations are used by permission. Copyright 1995 by God's Word to the Nations. All rights reserved. | |