Proverbs 28

The Law of God Makes Sense

1 Wicked people run away
when no one chases them,
but those who live right
are as brave as lions.

2 In time of civil war there are many leaders,
but a sensible leader
restores law and order. t

3 When someone poor takes over and mistreats the poor,
it’s like a heavy rain
destroying the crops.

4 Lawbreakers praise criminals, but law-abiding citizens
always oppose them.

5 Criminals don’t know what justice means,
but all who respect the Lord understand it completely.

6 It’s better to be poor and live right,
than to be rich
and dishonest.

7 It makes good sense to obey the Law of God,
but you disgrace your parents
if you make friends
with worthless nobodies.

8 If you make money by charging high interest rates,
you will lose it all to someone
who cares for the poor.

9 God cannot stand the prayers of anyone who disobeys
his Law.

10 By leading good people to sin, you dig a pit for yourself,
but all who live right
will have a bright future.

11 The rich think highly of themselves,
but anyone poor and sensible
sees right through them.

12 When an honest person wins, it’s time to celebrate;
when crooks are in control,
it’s best to hide.

13 If you don’t confess your sins, you will be a failure.
But God will be merciful
if you confess your sins
and give them up.

14 The Lord blesses everyone who is afraid to do evil,
but if you are cruel,
you will end up in trouble.

15 A ruler who mistreats the poor is like a roaring lion
or a bear hunting for food.

16 A heartless leader is a fool, but anyone who refuses
to get rich by cheating others
will live a long time.

17 Don’t give help to murderers! Make them stay on the run
for as long as they live. t

18 Honesty will keep you safe, but everyone who is crooked
will suddenly fall.

19 Work hard, and you will have a lot of food;
waste time, and you will have
a lot of trouble.

20 God blesses his loyal people, but punishes all who want
to get rich quick.

21 It isn’t right to be unfair, but some people can be bribed
with only a piece of bread.

22 Don’t be selfish and eager to get rich—
you will end up worse off
than you can imagine.

23 Honest correction is appreciated
more than flattery.

24 If you cheat your parents and don’t think it’s wrong,
you are a common thief.

25 Selfish people cause trouble, but you will live a full life
if you trust the Lord.

26 Only fools would trust what they alone think,
but if you live by wisdom,
you will do all right.

27 Giving to the poor will keep you from poverty,
but if you close your eyes
to their needs,
everyone will curse you.

28 When crooks are in control, everyone tries to hide,
but when they lose power,
good people are everywhere.

Proverbs 29

Use Good Sense

1 If you keep being stubborn
after many warnings,
you will suddenly discover
you have gone too far.

2 When justice rules a nation, everyone is glad;
when injustice rules,
everyone groans.

3 If you love wisdom your parents will be glad,
but chasing after bad women
will cost you everything.

4 An honest ruler makes the nation strong;
a ruler who takes bribes
will bring it to ruin.

5 Flattery is nothing less than setting a trap.

6 Your sins will catch you, but everyone who lives right
will sing and celebrate.

7 The wicked don’t care about the rights of the poor,
but good people do.

8 Sneering at others is a spark that sets a city on fire;
using good sense can put out
the flames of anger.

9 Be wise and don’t sue a fool. You won’t get satisfaction,
because all the fool will do
is sneer and shout.

10 A murderer hates everyone who is honest
and lives right. t

11 Don’t be a fool and quickly lose your temper—
be sensible and patient.

12 A ruler who listens to lies will have corrupt officials.

13 The poor and all who abuse them must each depend on God
for light.

14 Kings who are fair to the poor will rule forever.

15 Correct your children, and they will be wise;
children out of control
disgrace their mothers.

16 Crime increases when crooks are in power,
but law-abiding citizens
will see them fall.

17 If you correct your children, they will bring you peace
and happiness.

18 Without guidance from God law and order disappear,
but God blesses everyone
who obeys his Law.

19 Even when servants are smart, it takes more than words
to make them obey.

20 There is more hope for a fool than for someone who speaks
without thinking.

21 Slaves that you treat kindly from their childhood
will cause you sorrow. t

22 A person with a quick temper stirs up arguments
and commits a lot of sins.

23 Too much pride brings disgrace; humility leads to honor.

24 If you take part in a crime you are your worst enemy,
because even under oath
you can’t tell the truth.

25 Don’t fall into the trap of being a coward—
trust the Lord, and you will be safe.

26 Many try to make friends with a ruler,
but justice comes
from the Lord.

27 Good people and criminals can’t stand each other.

Proverbs 30

The Sayings of Agur

1 These are the sayings and the message
of Agur son of Jakeh.
Someone cries out to God,
“I am completely worn out!
How can I last? t

2 I am far too stupid to be considered human.

3 I never was wise, and I don’t understand
what God is like.”

4 Has anyone gone up to heaven and come back down?
Has anyone grabbed hold
of the wind?
Has anyone wrapped up the sea
or marked out boundaries
for the earth?
If you know of any
who have done such things,
then tell me their names
and their children’s names.

5 Everything God says is true— and it’s a shield for all
who come to him for safety.

6 Don’t change what God has said! He will correct you and show
that you are a liar.

7 There are two things, Lord, I want you to do for me
before I die:

8 Make me absolutely honest and don’t let me be too poor
or too rich.
Give me just what I need.

9 If I have too much to eat, I might forget about you;
if I don’t have enough,
I might steal
and disgrace your name.

10 Don’t tell a slave owner something bad about one
of the slaves.
That slave will curse you,
and you will be in trouble.

11 Some people curse their father and even their mother;

12 others think they are perfect, but they are stained by sin.

13 Some people are stuck-up and act like snobs;

14 others are so greedy that they gobble down
the poor and homeless.

15 Greedt has twins, each named “Give me!”
There are three or four things
that are never satisfied:

16 The world of the dead and a childless wife,
the thirsty earth
and a flaming fire.

17 Don’t make fun of your father or disobey your mother—
crows will peck out your eyes,
and buzzards will eat
the rest of you.

18 There are three or four things I cannot understand:

19 How eagles fly so high or snakes crawl on rocks,
how ships sail the ocean
or people fall in love.

20 An unfaithful wife says, “Sleeping with another man
is as natural as eating.”

21 There are three or four things that make the earth tremble
and are unbearable:

22 A slave who becomes king, a fool who eats too much,

23 a hateful woman who finds a husband,
and a slave who takes the place
of the woman who owns her.

24 On this earth four things are small but very wise:

25 Ants, who seem to be feeble, but store up food
all summer long;

26 badgers, who seem to be weak, but live among the rocks;

27 locusts, who have no king, but march like an army;

28 lizards,t which can be caught in your hand,
but sneak into palaces.

29 Three or four creatures really strut around:

30 Those fearless lions who rule the jungle,

31 those proud roosters, those mountain goats,
and those rulers
who have no enemies. t

32 If you are foolishly bragging or planning something evil,
then stop it now!

33 If you churn milk you get butter;
if you pound on your nose,
you get blood—
and if you stay angry,
you get in trouble.