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Wisdom & Poetry · Old Testament

Proverbs 28

Proverbs 28: the wicked who flee when no man pursues, the law, the poor, and hasting to be rich

General context

The wicked flee when no man pursues, but the righteous are bold as a lion. A poor man who oppresses the poor is like a sweeping rain that leaves no food. Those who forsake the law praise the wicked; those who keep it contend with them. Those who seek the Lord understand all things. Better is the poor who walks uprightly than the perverse rich man. He who increases by usury gathers it for one who will pity the poor. He who turns his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer is abomination. The rich man is wise in his own conceit, but the poor with understanding searches him out. He who covers his sins shall not prosper, but he who confesses and forsakes them shall have mercy. A wicked ruler over the poor is a roaring lion and a ranging bear; a prince without understanding is a great oppressor. A faithful man abounds with blessings, but he who hastens to be rich shall not be innocent; he has an evil eye and does not consider that poverty will come. He who rebukes finds more favour afterwards than he who flatters. He who robs his father or mother and says it is no transgression is the companion of a destroyer. A proud heart stirs up strife, but he who trusts in the Lord shall be made fat; he who trusts in his own heart is a fool. He who gives to the poor shall not lack, but he who hides his eyes shall have many a curse. When the wicked rise men hide themselves, but when they perish the righteous increase.

Cited passages: Proverbs 28:1, Proverbs 28:2, Proverbs 28:3, Proverbs 28:4, Proverbs 28:5, Proverbs 28:6, Proverbs 28:7, Proverbs 28:8, Proverbs 28:9, Proverbs 28:10, Proverbs 28:11, Proverbs 28:12, Proverbs 28:13, Proverbs 28:14, Proverbs 28:15, Proverbs 28:16, Proverbs 28:17, Proverbs 28:19, Proverbs 28:20, Proverbs 28:22, Proverbs 28:21, Proverbs 28:23, Proverbs 28:24, Proverbs 28:25, Proverbs 28:26, Proverbs 28:27, Proverbs 28:28

Proverbs 28 (KJV)

1The wicked flee when no man pursueth: but the righteous are bold as a lion.

2For the transgression of a land many are the princes thereof: but by a man of understanding and knowledge the state thereof shall be prolonged.

3A poor man that oppresseth the poor is like a sweeping rain which leaveth no food.

4They that forsake the law praise the wicked: but such as keep the law contend with them.

5Evil men understand not judgment: but they that seek the Lord understand all things.

6Better is the poor that walketh in his uprightness, than he that is perverse in his ways, though he be rich.

7Whoso keepeth the law is a wise son: but he that is a companion of riotous men shameth his father.

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

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

10Whoso causeth the righteous to go astray in an evil way, he shall fall himself into his own pit: but the upright shall have good things in possession.

11The rich man is wise in his own conceit; but the poor that hath understanding searcheth him out.

12When righteous men do rejoice, there is great glory: but when the wicked rise, a man is hidden.

13He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy.

14Happy is the man that feareth alway: but he that hardeneth his heart shall fall into mischief.

15As a roaring lion, and a ranging bear; so is a wicked ruler over the poor people.

16The prince that wanteth understanding is also a great oppressor: but he that hateth covetousness shall prolong his days.

17A man that doeth violence to the blood of any person shall flee to the pit; let no man stay him.

18Whoso walketh uprightly shall be saved: but he that is perverse in his ways shall fall at once.

19He that tilleth his land shall have plenty of bread: but he that followeth after vain persons shall have poverty enough.

20A faithful man shall abound with blessings: but he that maketh haste to be rich shall not be innocent.

21To have respect of persons is not good: for for a piece of bread that man will transgress.

22He that hasteth to be rich hath an evil eye, and considereth not that poverty shall come upon him.

23He that rebuketh a man afterwards shall find more favour than he that flattereth with the tongue.

24Whoso robbeth his father or his mother, and saith, It is no transgression; the same is the companion of a destroyer.

25He that is of a proud heart stirreth up strife: but he that putteth his trust in the Lord shall be made fat.

26He that trusteth in his own heart is a fool: but whoso walketh wisely, he shall be delivered.

27He that giveth unto the poor shall not lack: but he that hideth his eyes shall have many a curse.

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

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Historical context

No heading; the chapter continues the collection of 25:1. "The law" is named in verses 4, 7 and 9 without saying which law is meant or where it is written, and verse 9 makes hearing it the condition of acceptable prayer. The Lord is named in verses 5 and 25. "A land" in verse 2 and the ruler and prince of verses 15 and 16 are general; no country or reign is named, though verse 2 links a land's many princes to its transgression. Verse 6 restates 19:1, with "ways" for "lips" and "though he be rich" for "and is a fool", and verse 19 restates 12:11. Verses 12 and 28 say nearly the same thing, that when the wicked rise men hide, and the chapter ends on it. Verse 13 promises mercy to the one who confesses and forsakes his sins without naming who gives the mercy. Verse 17 says the man of blood "shall flee to the pit" and adds "let no man stay him"; the text states this as a saying, not as a legal ruling. Usury in verse 8 is named as "unjust gain" and its end is stated, gathered for one who pities the poor, without explaining how. The father robbed in verse 24 and the son in verse 7 are types.

Cited passages: Proverbs 28:4, Proverbs 28:9, Proverbs 28:5, Proverbs 28:25, Proverbs 28:2, Proverbs 28:6, Proverbs 19:1, Proverbs 28:19, Proverbs 12:11, Proverbs 28:12, Proverbs 28:28, Proverbs 28:13, Proverbs 28:17, Proverbs 28:8

Literary context

The antithetic "but" pair returns as the main form after the comparisons of chapters 25 to 27; most verses set the righteous, upright, faithful or poor against the wicked, perverse or rich. Rich and poor are the chapter's steady subject, in verses 3, 6, 8, 11, 15, 19, 20, 22 and 27, and the poor appear on both sides, oppressed in verse 3 by another poor man and searching out the conceited rich in verse 11. "The law" gives a second thread in verses 4, 7 and 9, each time as something kept, forsaken or not heard. The lion appears twice with opposite force, the righteous "bold as a lion" in verse 1 and the wicked ruler "As a roaring lion" in verse 15. Two verses on hasting to be rich (20 and 22) restate each other, and verses 25 and 26 pair trust in the Lord against trust in one's own heart. The pit appears in verses 10 and 17. Verses 12 and 28 frame the second half with the same picture, men hiding when the wicked rise, so the chapter's last word is the increase of the righteous when the wicked perish. Verse 24 gives a thief his own excuse, "It is no transgression".

Cited passages: Proverbs 28:1, Proverbs 28:3, Proverbs 28:11, Proverbs 28:7, Proverbs 28:9, Proverbs 28:15, Proverbs 28:20, Proverbs 28:22, Proverbs 28:25, Proverbs 28:26, Proverbs 28:10, Proverbs 28:12, Proverbs 28:28, Proverbs 28:24

Key moments

  1. Fleeing with no pursuer (Proverbs 28:1). The wicked flee when no one pursues; the righteous are bold as a lion.
  2. Better the upright poor (Proverbs 28:6). The poor who walks uprightly is ranked above the perverse rich man.
  3. Prayer as abomination (Proverbs 28:9). The one who turns from hearing the law finds even his prayer abominable.
  4. Covering sins (Proverbs 28:13). Covering sins brings no prospering; confessing and forsaking them brings mercy.
  5. A roaring lion (Proverbs 28:15). A wicked ruler over the poor is compared to a roaring lion and a ranging bear.
  6. Hasting to be rich (Proverbs 28:20). The faithful abound with blessings, but the one hasting to be rich is not innocent.
  7. Giving to the poor (Proverbs 28:27). Giving to the poor brings no lack; hiding one's eyes brings many a curse.

For reflection

Verse 1 says the righteous are bold as a lion, and verse 15 says a wicked ruler over the poor is a roaring lion. What does it change to read the same animal as courage in one verse and as threat in another?