Proverbs 28

The wicked flee when no one pursues;

But the righteous are as bold as a lion.

²In rebellion, a land has many rulers,

But order is maintained by a man of understanding and knowledge.

³A needy man who oppresses the poor

Is like a driving rain which leaves no crops.

⁴Those who forsake the Taurat praise the wicked;

But those who keep the Taurat contend with them.

⁵Evil men do not understand justice;

But those who seek Allah understand it fully.

⁶Better is the poor who walks in his integrity,

Than he who is perverse in his ways, and he is rich.

⁷Whoever keeps the Taurat is a wise son;

But he who is a companion of gluttons shames his father.

⁸He who increases his wealth by excessive interest

Gathers it for one who has pity on the poor.

⁹He who turns away his ear from hearing the Taurat,

Even his prayer is an abomination.

¹⁰Whoever causes the upright to go astray in an evil way,

He will fall into his own trap;

But the blameless will inherit good.

¹¹The rich man is wise in his own eyes;

But the poor who has understanding sees through him.

¹²When the righteous triumph, there is great glory;

But when the wicked rise, men hide themselves.

¹³He who conceals his sins does not prosper,

But whoever confesses and renounces them finds mercy.

¹⁴Blessed is the man who always fears;

But one who hardens his heart falls into trouble.

¹⁵As a roaring lion or a charging bear,

So is a wicked ruler over helpless people.

¹⁶A tyrannical ruler lacks judgment.

One who hates ill-gotten gain will have long days.

¹⁷A man who is tormented by life blood will be a fugitive until death;

No one will support him.

¹⁸Whoever walks blamelessly is kept safe;

But one with perverse ways will fall suddenly.

¹⁹One who works his land will have an abundance of food;

But one who chases fantasies will have his fill of poverty.

²⁰A faithful man is rich with blessings;

But one who is eager to be rich will not go unpunished.

²¹To show partiality is not good;

Yet a man will do wrong for a piece of bread.

²²A stingy man hurries after riches,

And does not know that poverty waits for him.

²³One who rebukes a man will afterward find more favour

Than one who flatters with the tongue.

²⁴Whoever robs his father or his mother, and says, "It's not wrong."

He is a partner with a destroyer.

²⁵One who is greedy stirs up strife;

But one who trusts in Allah will prosper.

²⁶One who trusts in himself is a fool;

But one who walks in wisdom, he is kept safe.

²⁷One who gives to the poor has no lack;

But one who closes his eyes will have many curses.

²⁸When the wicked rise, men hide themselves;

But when they perish, the righteous thrive.