18 The one whose walk is blameless is kept safe, but the one whose ways are perverse will fall into the pit.[1]

19 Those who work their land will have abundant food, but those who chase fantasies will have their fill of poverty.

20 A faithful person will be richly blessed, but one eager to get rich will not go unpunished.

21 To show partiality is not good- yet a person will do wrong for a piece of bread.

22 The stingy are eager to get rich and are unaware that poverty awaits them.

23 Whoever rebukes a person will in the end gain favor rather than one who has a flattering tongue.

24 Whoever robs their father or mother and says, "It's not wrong," is partner to one who destroys.

25 The greedy stir up conflict, but those who trust in the Lord will prosper.

26 Those who trust in themselves are fools, but those who walk in wisdom are kept safe.

27 Those who give to the poor will lack nothing, but those who close their eyes to them receive many curses.

28 When the wicked rise to power, people go into hiding; but when the wicked perish, the righteous thrive.

Other Translations of Proverbs 28:18-28

King James Version

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

English Standard Version

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 manHebrew A man whose eye is evil 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.

The Message

18 Walk straight - live well and be saved; a devious life is a doomed life. Doing Great Harm in Seemingly Harmless Ways

19 Work your garden - you'll end up with plenty of food; play and party - you'll end up with an empty plate.

20 Committed and persistent work pays off; get-rich-quick schemes are ripoffs.

21 Playing favorites is always a bad thing; you can do great harm in seemingly harmless ways.

22 A miser in a hurry to get rich doesn't know that he'll end up broke.

23 In the end, serious reprimand is appreciated far more than bootlicking flattery.

24 Anyone who robs father and mother and says, "So, what's wrong with that?" is worse than a pirate.

25 A grasping person stirs up trouble, but trust in God brings a sense of well-being.

26 If you think you know it all, you're a fool for sure; real survivors learn wisdom from others.

27 Be generous to the poor - you'll never go hungry; shut your eyes to their needs, and run a gauntlet of curses.

28 When corruption takes over, good people go underground, but when the crooks are thrown out, it's safe to come out.

New King James Version

18 Whoever walks blamelessly will be saved, But he who is perverse in his ways will suddenly fall.

19 He who tills his land will have plenty of bread, But he who follows frivolity will have poverty enough!

20 A faithful man will abound with blessings, But he who hastens to be rich will not go unpunished.

21 To show partiality is not good, Because for a piece of bread a man will transgress.

22 A man with an evil eye hastens after riches, And does not consider that poverty will come upon him.

23 He who rebukes a man will find more favor afterward Than he who flatters with the tongue.

24 Whoever robs his father or his mother, And says, "It is no transgression," The same is companion to a destroyer.

25 He who is of a proud heart stirs up strife, But he who trusts in the Lord will be prospered.

26 He who trusts in his own heart is a fool, But whoever walks wisely will be delivered.

27 He who gives to the poor will not lack, But he who hides his eyes will have many curses.

28 When the wicked arise, men hide themselves; But when they perish, the righteous increase.

New Living Translation

18 The blameless will be rescued from harm, but the crooked will be suddenly destroyed.

19 A hard worker has plenty of food, but a person who chases fantasies ends up in poverty.

20 The trustworthy person will get a rich reward, but a person who wants quick riches will get into trouble.

21 Showing partiality is never good, yet some will do wrong for a mere piece of bread.

22 Greedy people try to get rich quick but don't realize they're headed for poverty.

23 In the end, people appreciate honest criticism far more than flattery.

24 Anyone who steals from his father and mother and says, "What's wrong with that?" is no better than a murderer.

25 Greed causes fighting; trusting the Lord leads to prosperity.

26 Those who trust their own insight are foolish, but anyone who walks in wisdom is safe.

27 Whoever gives to the poor will lack nothing, but those who close their eyes to poverty will be cursed.

28 When the wicked take charge, people go into hiding. When the wicked meet disaster, the godly flourish.

Matthew Henry's Commentary on Proverbs 28:18-28

Commentary on Proverbs 28:18

(Read Proverbs 28:18)

Uprightness will give men holy security in the worst times; but the false and dishonest are never safe.

Commentary on Proverbs 28:19

(Read Proverbs 28:19)

Those who are diligent, take the way to live comfortably.

Commentary on Proverbs 28:20

(Read Proverbs 28:20)

The true way to be happy, is to be holy and honest; not to raise an estate suddenly, without regard to right or wrong.

Commentary on Proverbs 28:21

(Read Proverbs 28:21)

Judgment is perverted, when any thing but pure right is considered.

Commentary on Proverbs 28:22

(Read Proverbs 28:22)

He that hastens to be rich, never seriously thinks how quickly God may take his wealth from him, and leave him in poverty.

Commentary on Proverbs 28:23

(Read Proverbs 28:23)

Upon reflection, most will have a better opinion of a faithful reprover than of a soothing flatterer.

Commentary on Proverbs 28:24

(Read Proverbs 28:24)

Here is the wickedness of those who think it no sin to rob their parents, by wheedling them or threatening them, or by wasting what they have, and running into debt.

Commentary on Proverbs 28:25

(Read Proverbs 28:25)

Those make themselves always easy, that live in continual dependence upon God and his grace, and live by faith.

Commentary on Proverbs 28:26

(Read Proverbs 28:26)

A fool trusts to his own strength, merit, and righteousness. And trusts to his own heart, which is not only deceitful above all things, but which has often deceived him.

Commentary on Proverbs 28:27

(Read Proverbs 28:27)

A selfish man not only will not look out for objects of compassion, but will look off from those that call for his attention.

Commentary on Proverbs 28:28

(Read Proverbs 28:28)

When power is put into the hands of the wicked, wise men decline public business. If the reader will go diligently over this and the other chapters, in many places where at first he may suppose there is least of Christ, still he will find what will lead to him.