1 T he wicked have fled and there is no pursuer. And the righteous as a young lion is confident.

The wicked flee when no man pursues them, but the righteous are bold as a lion.

2 B y the transgression of a land many its heads. And by an intelligent man, Who knoweth right -- it is prolonged.

When a land transgresses, it has many rulers, but when the ruler is a man of discernment, understanding, and knowledge, its stability will long continue.

3 A man -- poor and oppressing the weak, a sweeping rain, and there is no bread.

A poor man who oppresses the poor is like a sweeping rain which leaves no food.

4 T hose forsaking the law praise the wicked, Those keeping the law plead against them.

Those who forsake the law praise the wicked, but those who keep the law contend with them.

5 E vil men understand not judgment, And those seeking Jehovah understand all.

Evil men do not understand justice, but they who crave and seek the Lord understand it fully.

6 B etter the poor walking in his integrity, Than the perverse of ways who is rich.

Better is the poor man who walks in his integrity than he who willfully goes in double and wrong ways, though he is rich.

7 W hoso is keeping the law is an intelligent son, And a friend of gluttons, Doth cause his father to blush.

Whoever keeps the law is a wise son, but he who is a companion of gluttons and the carousing, self-indulgent, and extravagant shames his father.

8 W hoso is multiplying his wealth by biting and usury, For one favouring the poor doth gather it.

He who by charging excessive interest and who by unjust efforts to get gain increases his material possession gathers it for him who is kind and generous to the poor.

9 W hoso is turning his ear from hearing the law, Even his prayer an abomination.

He who turns away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer is an abomination, hateful and revolting.

10 W hoso is causing the upright to err in an evil way, Into his own pit he doth fall, And the perfect do inherit good.

Whoever leads the upright astray into an evil way, he will himself fall into his own pit, but the blameless will have a goodly inheritance.

11 A rich man is wise in his own eyes, And the intelligent poor searcheth him.

The rich man is wise in his own eyes and conceit, but the poor man who has understanding will find him out.

12 I n the exulting of the righteous the glory abundant, And in the rising of the wicked man is apprehensive.

When the righteous triumph, there is great glory and celebration; but when the wicked rise, men hide themselves.

13 W hoso is covering his transgressions prospereth not, And he who is confessing and forsaking hath mercy.

He who covers his transgressions will not prosper, but whoever confesses and forsakes his sins will obtain mercy.

14 O the happiness of a man fearing continually, And whoso is hardening his heart falleth into evil.

Blessed (happy, fortunate, and to be envied) is the man who reverently and worshipfully fears at all times, but he who hardens his heart will fall into calamity.

15 A growling lion, and a ranging bear, the wicked ruler over a poor people.

Like a roaring lion or a ravenous and charging bear is a wicked ruler over a poor people.

16 A leader lacking understanding multiplieth oppressions, Whoso is hating dishonest gain prolongeth days.

A ruler who lacks understanding is a great oppressor, but he who hates covetousness and unjust gain shall prolong his days.

17 A man oppressed with the blood of a soul, Unto the pit fleeth, none taketh hold on him.

If a man willfully sheds the blood of a person, he is fleeing to the pit (the grave) and hastening to his own destruction; let no man stop him!

18 W hoso is walking uprightly is saved, And the perverted of ways falleth at once.

He who walks uprightly shall be safe, but he who willfully goes in double and wrong ways shall fall in one of them.

19 W hoso is tilling his ground is satisfied bread, And whoso is pursuing vanity, Is filled poverty.

He who cultivates his land will have plenty of bread, but he who follows worthless people and pursuits will have poverty enough.

20 A stedfast man hath multiplied blessings, And whoso is hasting to be rich is not acquitted.

A faithful man shall abound with blessings, but he who makes haste to be rich shall not go unpunished.

21 T o discern faces is not good, And for a piece of bread doth a man transgress.

To have respect of persons and to show partiality is not good, neither is it good that man should transgress for a piece of bread.

22 T roubled for wealth the man an evil eye, And he knoweth not that want doth meet him.

He who has an evil and covetous eye hastens to be rich and knows not that want will come upon him.

23 W hoso is reproving a man afterwards findeth grace, More than a flatterer with the tongue.

He who rebukes a man shall afterward find more favor than he who flatters with the tongue.

24 W hoso is robbing his father, or his mother, And is saying, `It is not transgression,' A companion he is to a destroyer.

Whoever robs his father or his mother and says, This is no sin—he is in the same class as a destroyer.

25 W hoso is proud in soul stirreth up contention, And whoso is trusting on Jehovah is made fat.

He who is of a greedy spirit stirs up strife, but he who puts his trust in the Lord shall be enriched and blessed.

26 W hoso is trusting in his heart is a fool, And whoso is walking in wisdom is delivered.

He who leans on, trusts in, and is confident of his own mind and heart is a fool, but he who walks in skillful and godly Wisdom shall be delivered.

27 W hoso is giving to the poor hath no lack, And whoso is hiding his eyes multiplied curses.

He who gives to the poor will not want, but he who hides his eyes will have many a curse.

28 I n the rising of the wicked a man is hidden, And in their destruction the righteous multiply!

When the wicked rise, men hide themselves; but when they perish, the righteous increase and become many.