Proverbs 28
Proverbs 28 contrasts the fearful nature of the wicked with the boldness of the righteous, emphasizing that the wicked flee from imaginary threats due to guilty consciences while the righteous stand firm like lions.[2] The chapter teaches that wisdom, integrity, generosity, trust in YHWH, and honest confession lead to prosperity and safety, while wickedness, greed, oppression of the poor, and self-reliance result in fear, ruin, and divine judgment.[1][3]
Interlinear Text
flee and-there-is-no pursuer wicked but-the-righteous as-a-lion is-confident
by transgression of a land many are its princes but by a man of understanding and knowledge so it endures
2
בְּ/פֶ֣שַֽׁע
𐤁/𐤐𐤔𐤏
befesha
by transgression
HR/Ncmsc
אֶ֭רֶץ
𐤀𐤓𐤑
erets
of a land
HNcbsa
רַבִּ֣ים
𐤓𐤁𐤉𐤌
rabim
many
HAampa
שָׂרֶ֑י/הָ
𐤔𐤓𐤉/𐤄
sareyha
are its princes
HNcmpc/Sp3fs
וּ/בְ/אָדָ֥ם
𐤅/𐤁/𐤀𐤃𐤌
uveadam
but by a man
HC/R/Ncmsa
מֵבִ֥ין
𐤌𐤁𐤉𐤍
mevin
of understanding
HVhrmsa
יֹ֝דֵ֗עַ
𐤉𐤃𐤏
yodea
and knowledge
HVqrmsa
כֵּ֣ן
𐤊𐤍
ken
so
HTm
יַאֲרִֽיךְ
𐤉𐤀𐤓𐤉𐤊
yaarikhe
it endures
HVhi3ms
man poor who oppresses the poor rain driving and-there-is-no bread
those who forsake the law praise the wicked but those who keep the law strive with them
4
עֹזְבֵ֣י
𐤏𐤆𐤁𐤉
ozevey
those who forsake
HVqrmpc
ת֭וֹרָה
𐤕𐤅𐤓𐤄
torah
the law
HNcfsa
יְהַֽלְל֣וּ
𐤉𐤄𐤋𐤋𐤅
yehalelu
praise
HVpi3mp
רָשָׁ֑ע
𐤓𐤔𐤏
rasha
the wicked
HAamsa
וְ/שֹׁמְרֵ֥י
𐤅/𐤔𐤌𐤓𐤉
veshomerey
but those who keep
HC/Vqrmpc
ת֝וֹרָ֗ה
𐤕𐤅𐤓𐤄
torah-2
the law
HNcfsa
יִתְגָּ֥רוּ
𐤉𐤕𐤂𐤓𐤅
yitegaru
strive
HVti3mp
בָֽ/ם
𐤁/𐤌
vam
with them
HR/Sp3mp
men of evil do not understand justice but seekers of YHWH understand all things
5
אַנְשֵׁי
𐤀𐤍𐤔𐤉
aneshey
men of
HNcmpc
רָ֭ע
𐤓𐤏
ra
evil
HAamsa
לֹא
𐤋𐤀
lo
do not
HTn
יָבִ֣ינוּ
𐤉𐤁𐤉𐤍𐤅
yavinu
understand
HVqi3mp
מִשְׁפָּ֑ט
𐤌𐤔𐤐𐤈
mishepat
justice
HNcmsa
וּ/מְבַקְשֵׁ֥י
𐤅/𐤌𐤁𐤒𐤔𐤉
umevaqeshey
but seekers of
HC/Vprmpc
יְ֝הוָ֗ה
𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄
yehvah
Nyambe (Lozi)
YHWH
HNp
יָבִ֥ינוּ
𐤉𐤁𐤉𐤍𐤅
yavinu-2
understand
HVqi3mp
כֹֽל
𐤊𐤋
khol
all things
HNcmsa
Better the poor who walks in his integrity than crooked in his ways though he be rich
6
טֽוֹב
𐤈𐤅𐤁
tov
Better
HAamsa
רָ֭שׁ
𐤓𐤔
rash
the poor
HVqrmsa
הוֹלֵ֣ךְ
𐤄𐤅𐤋𐤊
holekhe
who walks
HVqrmsa
בְּ/תֻמּ֑/וֹ
𐤁/𐤕𐤌/𐤅
betumo
in his integrity
HR/Ncmsc/Sp3ms
מֵ/עִקֵּ֥שׁ
𐤌/𐤏𐤒𐤔
meiqesh
than crooked
HR/Aamsc
דְּ֝רָכַ֗יִם
𐤃𐤓𐤊𐤉𐤌
derakhayim
in his ways
HNcbda
וְ/ה֣וּא
𐤅/𐤄𐤅𐤀
vehu
though he
HC/Pp3ms
עָשִֽׁיר
𐤏𐤔𐤉𐤓
ashir
be rich
HAamsa
keeps the law son discerning and companion of gluttons shames his father
7
נוֹצֵ֣ר
𐤍𐤅𐤑𐤓
notser
keeps
HVqrmsa
תּ֭וֹרָה
𐤕𐤅𐤓𐤄
torah
the law
HNcfsa
בֵּ֣ן
𐤁𐤍
ben
Bene (Bemba)
son
HNcmsa
מֵבִ֑ין
𐤌𐤁𐤉𐤍
mevin
discerning
HVhrmsa
וְ/רֹעֶה
𐤅/𐤓𐤏𐤄
veroeh
and companion of
HC/Vqrmsa
זֽ֝וֹלְלִ֗ים
𐤆𐤅𐤋𐤋𐤉𐤌
zolelim
gluttons
HVqrmpa
יַכְלִ֥ים
𐤉𐤊𐤋𐤉𐤌
yakhelim
shames
HVhi3ms
אָבִֽי/ו
𐤀𐤁𐤉/𐤅
aviv
his father
HNcmsc/Sp3ms
increases his wealth by interest and by usury and increase for him who is gracious the poor he will gather it
8
מַרְבֶּ֣ה
𐤌𐤓𐤁𐤄
marebeh
increases
HVhrmsa
ה֭וֹנ/וֹ
𐤄𐤅𐤍/𐤅
hono
his wealth
HNcmsc/Sp3ms
בְּ/נֶ֣שֶׁךְ
𐤁/𐤍𐤔𐤊
beneshekhe
by interest
HR/Ncmsa
ו/ב/תרבית
𐤅/𐤁/𐤕𐤓𐤁𐤉𐤕
vvtrvyt
and by usury
HC/R/Ncfsa
וְ/תַרְבִּ֑ית
𐤅/𐤕𐤓𐤁𐤉𐤕
vetarebit
and increase
HC/Ncfsa
לְ/חוֹנֵ֖ן
𐤋/𐤇𐤅𐤍𐤍
lechonen
for him who is gracious
HR/Vqrmsa
דַּלִּ֣ים
𐤃𐤋𐤉𐤌
dalim
the poor
HAampa
יִקְבְּצֶֽ/נּוּ
𐤉𐤒𐤁𐤑/𐤍𐤅
yiqebetsenu
he will gather it
HVqi3ms/Sp3ms
turns away his ear from hearing the law even his prayer is an abomination
misleads the upright in a way evil into his own pit he will fall but the blameless will inherit good
10
מַשְׁגֶּ֤ה
𐤌𐤔𐤂𐤄
mashegeh
misleads
HVhrmsa
יְשָׁרִ֨ים
𐤉𐤔𐤓𐤉𐤌
yesharim
the upright
HAampa
בְּ/דֶ֥רֶךְ
𐤁/𐤃𐤓𐤊
bederekhe
in a way
HR/Ncbsc
רָ֗ע
𐤓𐤏
ra
evil
HAamsa
בִּ/שְׁחוּת֥/וֹ
𐤁/𐤔𐤇𐤅𐤕/𐤅
bishechuto
into his own pit
HR/Ncfsc/Sp3ms
הֽוּא
𐤄𐤅𐤀
hu
he
HPp3ms
יִפּ֑וֹל
𐤉𐤐𐤅𐤋
yipol
will fall
HVqi3ms
וּ֝/תְמִימִ֗ים
𐤅/𐤕𐤌𐤉𐤌𐤉𐤌
utemimim
but the blameless
HC/Aampa
יִנְחֲלוּ
𐤉𐤍𐤇𐤋𐤅
yinechalu
will inherit
HVqi3mp
טֽוֹב
𐤈𐤅𐤁
tov
good
HAamsa
wise in his own eyes man rich but poor who has understanding searches him out
11
חָכָ֣ם
𐤇𐤊𐤌
chakham
wise
HAamsa
בְּ֭/עֵינָי/ו
𐤁/𐤏𐤉𐤍𐤉/𐤅
beeynayv
in his own eyes
HR/Ncbdc/Sp3ms
אִ֣ישׁ
𐤀𐤉𐤔
ish
man
HNcmsa
עָשִׁ֑יר
𐤏𐤔𐤉𐤓
ashir
rich
HAamsa
וְ/דַ֖ל
𐤅/𐤃𐤋
vedal
but poor
HC/Aamsa
מֵבִ֣ין
𐤌𐤁𐤉𐤍
mevin
who has understanding
HVhrmsa
יַחְקְרֶֽ/נּוּ
𐤉𐤇𐤒𐤓/𐤍𐤅
yacheqerenu
searches him out
HVqi3ms/Sp3ms
when the righteous rejoice righteous great glory and-when-rise wicked is-searched-for man
12
בַּ/עֲלֹ֣ץ
𐤁/𐤏𐤋𐤑
baalots
when the righteous rejoice
HR/Vqc
צַ֭דִּיקִים
𐤑𐤃𐤉𐤒𐤉𐤌
tsadiqim
righteous
HAampa
רַבָּ֣ה
𐤓𐤁𐤄
rabah
great
HAafsa
תִפְאָ֑רֶת
𐤕𐤐𐤀𐤓𐤕
tifearet
glory
HNcfsa
וּ/בְ/ק֥וּם
𐤅/𐤁/𐤒𐤅𐤌
uvequm
and-when-rise
HC/R/Vqc
רְ֝שָׁעִ֗ים
𐤓𐤔𐤏𐤉𐤌
reshaim
wicked
HAampa
יְחֻפַּ֥שׂ
𐤉𐤇𐤐𐤔
yechupas
is-searched-for
HVPi3ms
אָדָֽם
𐤀𐤃𐤌
adam
man
HNcmsa
conceals his transgressions not prosper and confesses and forsakes will find compassion
13
מְכַסֶּ֣ה
𐤌𐤊𐤎𐤄
mekhaseh
conceals
HVprmsa
פְ֭שָׁעָי/ו
𐤐𐤔𐤏𐤉/𐤅
feshaayv
his transgressions
HNcmpc/Sp3ms
לֹ֣א
𐤋𐤀
lo
not
HTn
יַצְלִ֑יחַ
𐤉𐤑𐤋𐤉𐤇
yatselicha
prosper
HVhi3ms
וּ/מוֹדֶ֖ה
𐤅/𐤌𐤅𐤃𐤄
umodeh
and confesses
HC/Vhrmsa
וְ/עֹזֵ֣ב
𐤅/𐤏𐤆𐤁
veozev
and forsakes
HC/Vqrmsa
יְרֻחָֽם
𐤉𐤓𐤇𐤌
yerucham
will find compassion
HVPi3ms
Blessed is the man who fears always but whoever hardens his heart will fall into calamity
14
אַשְׁרֵ֣י
𐤀𐤔𐤓𐤉
asherey
Blessed
HNcmpa
אָ֭דָם
𐤀𐤃𐤌
adam
is the man
HNcmsa
מְפַחֵ֣ד
𐤌𐤐𐤇𐤃
mefached
who fears
HVprmsa
תָּמִ֑יד
𐤕𐤌𐤉𐤃
tamid
always
HNcmsa
וּ/מַקְשֶׁ֥ה
𐤅/𐤌𐤒𐤔𐤄
umaqesheh
but whoever hardens
HC/Vhrmsa
לִ֝בּ֗/וֹ
𐤋𐤁/𐤅
libo
his heart
HNcmsc/Sp3ms
יִפּ֥וֹל
𐤉𐤐𐤅𐤋
yipol
will fall
HVqi3ms
בְּ/רָעָֽה
𐤁/𐤓𐤏𐤄
beraah
into calamity
HR/Ncfsa
lion roaring and-bear ranging ruler wicked over people poor
prince who lacks understanding and great oppressions hater of covetousness will prolong days
16
נָגִ֗יד
𐤍𐤂𐤉𐤃
nagid
prince
HNcmsa
חֲסַ֣ר
𐤇𐤎𐤓
chasar
who lacks
HAamsc
תְּ֭בוּנוֹת
𐤕𐤁𐤅𐤍𐤅𐤕
tevunot
understanding
HNcfpa
וְ/רַ֥ב
𐤅/𐤓𐤁
verav
and great
HC/Aamsc
מַעֲשַׁקּ֑וֹת
𐤌𐤏𐤔𐤒𐤅𐤕
maashaqot
oppressions
HNcfpa
שנאי
𐤔𐤍𐤀𐤉
shny
hater
HVqrmpc
שֹׂ֥נֵא
𐤔𐤍𐤀
sone
of
HVqrmsa
בֶ֝֗צַע
𐤁𐤑𐤏
vetsa
covetousness
HNcmsa
יַאֲרִ֥יךְ
𐤉𐤀𐤓𐤉𐤊
yaarikhe
will prolong
HVhi3ms
יָמִֽים
𐤉𐤌𐤉𐤌
yamim
days
HNcmpa
A man burdened with blood of a soul until a pit will flee let no one help him
17
אָ֭דָם
𐤀𐤃𐤌
adam
A man
HNcmsa
עָשֻׁ֣ק
𐤏𐤔𐤒
ashuq
burdened
HVqsmsa
בְּ/דַם
𐤁/𐤃𐤌
bedam
with blood
HR/Ncmsc
נָפֶשׁ
𐤍𐤐𐤔
nafesh
of a soul
HNcbsa
עַד
𐤏𐤃
ad
until
HR
בּ֥וֹר
𐤁𐤅𐤓
bor
a pit
HNcmsa
יָ֝נ֗וּס
𐤉𐤍𐤅𐤎
yanus
will flee
HVqi3ms
אַל
𐤀𐤋
al
let no
HTn
יִתְמְכוּ
𐤉𐤕𐤌𐤊𐤅
yitemekhu
one help
HVqj3mp
בֽ/וֹ
𐤁/𐤅
vo
him
HR/Sp3ms
who walks blamelessly will be delivered but he who is crooked in his ways will fall at once
18
הוֹלֵ֣ךְ
𐤄𐤅𐤋𐤊
holekhe
who walks
HVqrmsa
תָּ֭מִים
𐤕𐤌𐤉𐤌
tamim
blamelessly
HAamsa
יִוָּשֵׁ֑עַ
𐤉𐤅𐤔𐤏
yivashea
will be delivered
HVNi3ms
וְ/נֶעְקַ֥שׁ
𐤅/𐤍𐤏𐤒𐤔
veneeqash
but he who is crooked
HC/VNsmsc
דְּ֝רָכַ֗יִם
𐤃𐤓𐤊𐤉𐤌
derakhayim
in his ways
HNcbda
יִפּ֥וֹל
𐤉𐤐𐤅𐤋
yipol
will fall
HVqi3ms
בְּ/אֶחָֽת
𐤁/𐤀𐤇𐤕
beechat
Eka (Bemba)
at once
HR/Acfsa
he who tills his land will have plenty of bread but he who pursues empty pursuits will have plenty of poverty
19
עֹבֵ֣ד
𐤏𐤁𐤃
oved
he who tills
HVqrmsc
אַ֭דְמָת/וֹ
𐤀𐤃𐤌𐤕/𐤅
ademato
his land
HNcfsc/Sp3ms
יִֽשְׂבַּֽע
𐤉𐤔𐤁𐤏
yiseba
will have plenty
HVqi3ms
לָ֑חֶם
𐤋𐤇𐤌
lachem
of bread
HNcbsa
וּ/מְרַדֵּ֥ף
𐤅/𐤌𐤓𐤃𐤐
umeradef
but he who pursues
HC/Vprmsa
רֵ֝קִ֗ים
𐤓𐤒𐤉𐤌
reqim
empty pursuits
HAampa
יִֽשְׂבַּֽע
𐤉𐤔𐤁𐤏
yiseba-2
will have plenty
HVqi3ms
רִֽישׁ
𐤓𐤉𐤔
rish
of poverty
HNcmsa
faithful man faithful abound with blessings but he who makes haste to be rich shall not go unpunished
20
אִ֣ישׁ
𐤀𐤉𐤔
ish
faithful man
HNcmsc
אֱ֭מוּנוֹת
𐤀𐤌𐤅𐤍𐤅𐤕
emunot
faithful
HNcfpa
רַב
𐤓𐤁
rav
abound
HAamsc
בְּרָכ֑וֹת
𐤁𐤓𐤊𐤅𐤕
berakhot
with blessings
HNcfpa
וְ/אָ֥ץ
𐤅/𐤀𐤑
veats
but he who makes haste
HC/Vqrmsa
לְ֝/הַעֲשִׁ֗יר
𐤋/𐤄𐤏𐤔𐤉𐤓
lehaashir
to be rich
HR/Vhc
לֹ֣א
𐤋𐤀
lo
shall not
HTn
יִנָּקֶֽה
𐤉𐤍𐤒𐤄
yinaqeh
go unpunished
HVNi3ms
to show partiality of persons is not good for a piece of bread will transgress a man
hastens to wealth man evil eye and not knows that poverty will come upon him
22
נִֽבֳהָ֥ל
𐤍𐤁𐤄𐤋
nivohal
hastens
HVNrmsa
לַ/ה֗וֹן
𐤋/𐤄𐤅𐤍
lahon
to wealth
HRd/Ncmsa
אִ֭ישׁ
𐤀𐤉𐤔
ish
man
HNcmsc
רַ֣ע
𐤓𐤏
ra
evil
HAamsc
עָ֑יִן
𐤏𐤉𐤍
ayin
eye
HNcbsa
וְ/לֹֽא
𐤅/𐤋𐤀
velo
and not
HC/Tn
יֵ֝דַע
𐤉𐤃𐤏
yeda
knows
HVqi3ms
כִּי
𐤊𐤉
ki
that
HC
חֶ֥סֶר
𐤇𐤎𐤓
cheser
poverty
HNcmsa
יְבֹאֶֽ/נּוּ
𐤉𐤁𐤀/𐤍𐤅
yevoenu
will come upon him
HVqi3ms/Sp3ms
rebukes a man afterward favor will find than flattering with the tongue
robs his father or his mother and says There is no transgression companion he of a man who destroys
24
גּוֹזֵ֤ל
𐤂𐤅𐤆𐤋
gozel
robs
HVqrmsa
אָ֘בִ֤י/ו
𐤀𐤁𐤉/𐤅
aviv
his father
HNcmsc/Sp3ms
וְ/אִמּ֗/וֹ
𐤅/𐤀𐤌/𐤅
veimo
or his mother
HC/Ncfsc/Sp3ms
וְ/אֹמֵ֥ר
𐤅/𐤀𐤌𐤓
veomer
and says
HC/Vqrmsa
אֵֽין
𐤀𐤉𐤍
eyn
There is no
HTn
פָּ֑שַׁע
𐤐𐤔𐤏
pasha
transgression
HNcmsa
חָבֵ֥ר
𐤇𐤁𐤓
chaver
companion
HNcmsa
ה֝֗וּא
𐤄𐤅𐤀
hu
he
HPp3ms
לְ/אִ֣ישׁ
𐤋/𐤀𐤉𐤔
leish
of a man
HR/Ncmsa
מַשְׁחִֽית
𐤌𐤔𐤇𐤉𐤕
mashechit
who destroys
HVhrmsa
broad soul stirs up strife but trusts upon YHWH will be enriched
trusts in his heart he is a fool and walks in wisdom he will be delivered
26
בּוֹטֵ֣חַ
𐤁𐤅𐤈𐤇
botecha
trusts
HVqrmsa
בְּ֭/לִבּ/וֹ
𐤁/𐤋𐤁/𐤅
belibo
in his heart
HR/Ncmsc/Sp3ms
ה֣וּא
𐤄𐤅𐤀
hu
he
HPp3ms
כְסִ֑יל
𐤊𐤎𐤉𐤋
khesil
is a fool
HAamsa
וְ/הוֹלֵ֥ךְ
𐤅/𐤄𐤅𐤋𐤊
veholekhe
and walks
HC/Vqrmsa
בְּ֝/חָכְמָ֗ה
𐤁/𐤇𐤊𐤌𐤄
bechakhemah
in wisdom
HR/Ncfsa
ה֣וּא
𐤄𐤅𐤀
hu-2
he
HPp3ms
יִמָּלֵֽט
𐤉𐤌𐤋𐤈
yimalet
will be delivered
HVNi3ms
He who gives to the poor there is no lack but he who hides his eyes many curses
27
נוֹתֵ֣ן
𐤍𐤅𐤕𐤍
noten
He who gives
HVqrmsa
לָ֭/רָשׁ
𐤋/𐤓𐤔
larash
to the poor
HRd/Vqrmsa
אֵ֣ין
𐤀𐤉𐤍
eyn
there is no
HTn
מַחְס֑וֹר
𐤌𐤇𐤎𐤅𐤓
machesor
lack
HNcmsa
וּ/מַעְלִ֥ים
𐤅/𐤌𐤏𐤋𐤉𐤌
umaelim
but he who hides
HC/Vhrmsa
עֵ֝ינָ֗י/ו
𐤏𐤉𐤍𐤉/𐤅
eynayv
his eyes
HNcbdc/Sp3ms
רַב
𐤓𐤁
rav
many
HAamsc
מְאֵרֽוֹת
𐤌𐤀𐤓𐤅𐤕
meerot
curses
HNcfpa
when they rise the wicked a man hides man but when they perish increase the righteous
28
בְּ/ק֣וּם
𐤁/𐤒𐤅𐤌
bequm
when they rise
HR/Vqc
רְ֭שָׁעִים
𐤓𐤔𐤏𐤉𐤌
reshaim
the wicked
HAampa
יִסָּתֵ֣ר
𐤉𐤎𐤕𐤓
yisater
a man hides
HVNi3ms
אָדָ֑ם
𐤀𐤃𐤌
adam
man
HNcmsa
וּ֝/בְ/אָבְדָ֗/ם
𐤅/𐤁/𐤀𐤁𐤃/𐤌
uveavedam
but when they perish
HC/R/Vqc/Sp3mp
יִרְבּ֥וּ
𐤉𐤓𐤁𐤅
yirebu
increase
HVqi3mp
צַדִּיקִֽים
𐤑𐤃𐤉𐤒𐤉𐤌
tsadiqim
the righteous
HAampa