Proverbs 28 - ESV - Bible Reading / Study Notes

Proverbs 28

28:1   The wicked flee when no one pursues,
    but the righteous are bold as a lion.
2   When a land transgresses, it has many rulers,
    but with a man of understanding and knowledge,
    its stability will long continue.
3   A poor man who oppresses the poor
    is a beating rain that leaves no food.
4   Those who forsake the law praise the wicked,
    but those who keep the law strive against them.
5   Evil men do not understand justice,
    but those who seek the LORD understand it completely.
6   Better is a poor man who walks in his integrity
    than a rich man who is crooked in his ways.
7   The one who keeps the law is a son with understanding,
    but a companion of gluttons shames his father.
8   Whoever multiplies his wealth by interest and profit¹
    gathers it for him who is generous to the poor.
9   If one turns away his ear from hearing the law,
    even his prayer is an abomination.
10   Whoever misleads the upright into an evil way
    will fall into his own pit,
    but the blameless will have a goodly inheritance.
11   A rich man is wise in his own eyes,
    but a poor man who has understanding will find him out.
12   When the righteous triumph, there is great glory,
    but when the wicked rise, people hide themselves.
13   Whoever conceals his transgressions will not prosper,
    but he who confesses and forsakes them will obtain mercy.
14   Blessed is the one who fears the LORD² always,
    but whoever hardens his heart will fall into calamity.
15   Like a roaring lion or a charging bear
    is a wicked ruler over a poor people.
16   A ruler who lacks understanding is a cruel oppressor,
    but he who hates unjust gain will prolong his days.
17   If one is burdened with the blood of another,
    he will be a fugitive until death;³
    let no one help him.
18   Whoever walks in integrity will be delivered,
    but he who is crooked in his ways will suddenly fall.
19   Whoever works his land will have plenty of bread,
    but he who follows worthless pursuits will have plenty of poverty.
20   A faithful man will abound with blessings,
    but whoever hastens to be rich will not go unpunished.
21   To show partiality is not good,
    but for a piece of bread a man will do wrong.
22   A stingy man⁴ hastens after wealth
    and does not know that poverty will come upon him.
23   Whoever rebukes a man will afterward find more favor
    than he who flatters with his tongue.
24   Whoever robs his father or his mother
    and says, “That is no transgression,”
    is a companion to a man who destroys.
25   A greedy man stirs up strife,
    but the one who trusts in the LORD will be enriched.
26   Whoever trusts in his own mind is a fool,
    but he who walks in wisdom will be delivered.
27   Whoever gives to the poor will not want,
    but he who hides his eyes will get many a curse.
28   When the wicked rise, people hide themselves,
    but when they perish, the righteous increase.

Footnotes

[1] 28:8 That is, profit that comes from charging interest to the poor
[2] 28:14 Hebrew lacks the Lord
[3] 28:17 Hebrew until the pit
[4] 28:22 Hebrew A man whose eye is evil

Commentary

v1: The righteous man trusts in God, and is bold and fearless.

v2: The reality of sin means there are "many rulers," many in authority, making and enforcing laws; Rom 13.3.

v3: Where a person in authority oppresses the poor, his very source of income is destroyed.

v4: The godly man will keep the law, even though that may bring him into conflict with others.

v5: The godly man seeks the Lord, and grows in understanding.

v6: Honesty is vital in all our dealings.

v7: A father teaches his son to keep the law, and to avoid bad company.

v8: Usury, or "exorbitant interest" is an attack on the poor. God will judge such, and return his wealth to those who need it.

v9: God knows the heart; when we pray selfishly, rejecting His ways, then we find our prayers are not heard.

v10: Some will seek to trap the righteous; God looks after His own righteous, and will ensure that the schemer suffers his own trap.

v11: Riches can encourage pride, and self-exaltation, and then self-justification over personal sins. Riches can so easily become a barrier to spiritual growth. The rich man becomes like the fool, wise in his own eyes.

v12: When the wicked are prominent, see 29.2, the godly, ordinary faithful people are grieved.

v13: Sins must be exposed and confessed; to cling to them is folly, see v9.

v14: Always reverent, respecting God and His things; having an open ear and an open heart; the contrast is with the hard of heart.

v15: Disaster, a wicked man in charge of those who cannot free themselves from His authority.

v16: A tyrant is equally bad, in contrast with the man who pursues gain honestly. The ruler ought to be a man of understanding.

v17: Cain the fugitive; such a man will suffer for his sins.

v18: See also v10; God knows the blameless, He protects them from problems they know nothing about. In contrast, the man who lives in deceit and perversity will fall.

v19: Diligence and a balanced mind; we are realistic about work. We must not chase the fantasy of vast wealth easily gained, nor harbour fantasies about although matters.

v20: The danger of covetousness; often such an attitude does not allow generosity.

v21: Partiality, bias, dishonesty; yet in desperate straits a man will steal or lie, see 30.7-9. To care for the poor means that such temptations are avoided.

v22: The stingy man has a desire for riches, but is also selfish.

v23: Rebuke is of more lasting benefit than flattery.

v24: The danger of self-deceit.

v25: The greedy man, being selfish, promotes dissension.

v26: We do not trust in our selves, but in the Lord.

v27: Generosity is the antidote to greed, and the answer to poverty.

v28: See v15-16, the wicked in authority, bringing disaster upon the nation. Once the wicked are removed, the righteous rejoice.