Chapter Overview
Summary
Proverbs 28 continues the Hezekiah-edited Solomonic-proverbs with strong concentration on political-ethics, justice-for-the-poor, and Torah-observance. Verse 13 — 'whoever conceals his transgressions will not prosper, but he who confesses and forsakes them will obtain mercy' — is a foundational confession-and-forgiveness text anticipating 1 John 1:9.
Notable Variants
28:13 'conceal-vs-confess transgressions' → 1 John 1:9 ('if we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive'); 28:9 'if one turns away his ear from the law, even his prayer is an abomination'; 28:1 'the wicked flee when no one pursues.'
Structural Notes
MT Prov 28 = LXX Prov 28. 28 verses.
The wicked flee when no one pursues, but the righteous are as bold as a young lion.
'The wicked flee when no one pursues, but the righteous are bold as a lion' tracks MT. BOLD-AS-A-LION — courage-of-the-righteous. Leviticus 26:17 ('you shall flee when none pursues you') background.
When a land transgresses, its rulers multiply; but with a person of understanding and knowledge, stability endures.
'When a land transgresses, it has many rulers, but with a man of understanding and knowledge, its stability will long continue' tracks MT. POLITICAL-INSTABILITY from moral-corruption.
A poor ruler who oppresses the weak is like a driving rain that leaves no food.
'A poor man who oppresses the poor is a beating rain that leaves no food' tracks MT.
Those who abandon instruction praise the wicked, but those who keep instruction resist them.
'Those who forsake the law praise the wicked, but those who keep the law strive against them' tracks MT.
People given to evil do not understand justice, but those who seek the LORD understand everything.
'Evil men do not understand justice, but those who seek the LORD understand it completely' tracks MT. 1 Corinthians 2:15 ('the spiritual person judges all things') Christologically extends.
Better a poor person who walks in integrity than a rich one whose ways are crooked.
'Better is a poor man who walks in his integrity than a rich man who is crooked in his ways' tracks MT.
A son who keeps instruction is discerning, but a companion of gluttons shames his father.
'The one who keeps the law is a son with understanding, but a companion of gluttons shames his father' tracks MT.
Whoever increases wealth by interest and profit gathers it for someone who will be generous to the poor.
'Whoever multiplies his wealth by interest and profit gathers it for him who is generous to the poor' tracks MT. USURY-WEALTH-TRANSFERRED-TO-GENEROUS. Divine-redistributive-justice.
Whoever turns his ear away from hearing instruction — even his prayer is detestable.
'If one turns away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer is an abomination' tracks MT. PRAYER-OF-LAW-IGNORER ABOMINATION — Torah-hearing as prerequisite to God-hearing. 1 John 3:22 ('we receive from him whatever we ask, because we keep his commandments') extends.
Whoever leads the upright astray on an evil path will fall into his own pit, but the blameless will inherit what is good.
'Whoever misleads the upright into an evil way will fall into his own pit, but the blameless will have a goodly inheritance' tracks MT.
A rich person is wise in his own eyes, but a poor person with understanding sees through him.
'A rich man is wise in his own eyes, but a poor man who has understanding will find him out' tracks MT.
When the righteous triumph, there is great splendor; but when the wicked rise to power, people hide.
'When the righteous triumph, there is great glory, but when the wicked rise, people hide themselves' tracks MT.
Whoever conceals his transgressions will not prosper, but whoever confesses and abandons them will receive mercy.
'Whoever conceals his transgressions will not prosper, but he who confesses and forsakes them will obtain mercy' tracks MT. CONFESS-AND-FORSAKE-OBTAINS-MERCY. 1 John 1:9 ('if we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness') directly extends. James 5:16 ('confess your sins to one another') continues the confession-theology.
Blessed is the person who always trembles with caution, but whoever hardens his heart will fall into disaster.
'Blessed is the one who fears the LORD always, but whoever hardens his heart will fall into calamity' tracks MT. HARDENS-HIS-HEART — Pharaoh-Exodus vocabulary, applied to general-wicked.
A roaring lion and a charging bear — that is a wicked ruler over a helpless people.
'Like a roaring lion or a charging bear is a wicked ruler over a poor people' tracks MT.
A leader who lacks understanding is a great oppressor, but whoever hates unjust gain will enjoy long life.
'A ruler who lacks understanding is a cruel oppressor, but he who hates unjust gain will prolong his days' tracks MT.
A person burdened with the guilt of bloodshed will flee to the pit — let no one support him.
'If one is burdened with the blood of another, he will flee to the grave; let no one help him' tracks MT.
Whoever walks in integrity will be delivered, but whoever is crooked in his ways will fall suddenly.
'Whoever walks in integrity will be delivered, but he who is crooked in his ways will suddenly fall' tracks MT.
Whoever works his land will have plenty of food, but whoever chases fantasies will have plenty of poverty.
'Whoever works his land will have plenty of bread, but he who follows worthless pursuits will have plenty of poverty' tracks MT. // Prov 12:11 echo.
A faithful person will overflow with blessings, but whoever rushes to get rich will not go unpunished.
'A faithful man will abound with blessings, but whoever hastens to be rich will not go unpunished' tracks MT. HASTENS-TO-BE-RICH punishment — 1 Timothy 6:9 ('those who desire to be rich fall into temptation').
Showing partiality is not good; a person can be corrupted for a piece of bread.
'To show partiality is not good, but for a piece of bread a man will do wrong' tracks MT.
A stingy person hurries after wealth and does not realize that poverty will overtake him.
'A stingy man hastens after wealth and does not know that poverty will come upon him' tracks MT.
Whoever rebukes a person will afterward find more favor than the one who flatters with his tongue.
'Whoever rebukes a man will afterward find more favor than he who flatters with his tongue' tracks MT. REBUKE-OVER-FLATTERY friendship-ethic.
Whoever robs his father or mother and says, 'It is no offense' — he is a companion of a destroyer.
'Whoever robs his father or his mother and says: That is no transgression — is a companion to a man who destroys' tracks MT.
A greedy person stirs up conflict, but whoever trusts in the LORD will prosper.
'A greedy man stirs up strife, but the one who trusts in the LORD will be enriched' tracks MT.
Whoever trusts in his own heart is a fool, but whoever walks in wisdom will be delivered.
'Whoever trusts in his own mind is a fool, but he who walks in wisdom will be delivered' tracks MT. ANTI-SELF-TRUST — // Prov 3:5 ('do not lean on your own understanding').
Whoever gives to the poor will lack nothing, but whoever hides his eyes will receive many curses.
'Whoever gives to the poor will not want, but he who hides his eyes will get many a curse' tracks MT.
When the wicked rise to power, people hide; but when they perish, the righteous flourish.
'When the wicked rise, people hide themselves, but when they perish, the righteous increase' tracks MT.