The Righteous Are Bold as a Lion

28 The (A)wicked flee when no one pursues,
But the righteous are bold as a lion.

Because of the transgression of a land, many are its princes;
But by a man of understanding and knowledge
Right will be prolonged.

(B)A poor man who oppresses the poor
Is like a driving rain [a]which leaves no food.

(C)Those who forsake the law praise the wicked,
(D)But such as keep the law contend with them.

(E)Evil men do not understand justice,
But (F)those who seek the Lord understand all.

Better is the poor who walks in his integrity
Than one perverse in his ways, though he be rich.

Whoever keeps the law is a discerning son,
But a companion of gluttons shames his father.

One who increases his possessions by usury and extortion
Gathers it for him who will pity the poor.

One who turns away his ear from hearing the law,
(G)Even his prayer is an abomination.

10 (H)Whoever causes the upright to go astray in an evil way,
He himself will fall into his own pit;
(I)But the blameless will inherit good.

11 The rich man is wise in his own eyes,
But the poor who has understanding searches him out.

12 When the righteous rejoice, there is great (J)glory;
But when the wicked arise, men [b]hide themselves.

13 (K)He who covers his sins will not prosper,
But whoever confesses and forsakes them will have mercy.

14 Happy is the man who is always reverent,
But he who hardens his heart will fall into calamity.

15 (L)Like a roaring lion and a charging bear
(M)Is a wicked ruler over poor people.

16 A ruler who lacks understanding is a great (N)oppressor,
But he who hates covetousness will prolong his days.

17 (O)A man burdened with bloodshed will flee into a pit;
Let no one help him.

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

19 (P)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,
(Q)But he who hastens to be rich will not go unpunished.

21 (R)To [d]show partiality is not good,
(S)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 (T)poverty will come upon him.

23 (U)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 (V)is companion to a destroyer.

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

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

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

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

Happy Is He Who Keeps the Law

29 He(AB) who is often rebuked, and hardens his neck,
Will suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy.

When the righteous [e]are in authority, the (AC)people rejoice;
But when a wicked man rules, (AD)the people groan.

Whoever loves wisdom makes his father rejoice,
But a companion of harlots wastes his wealth.

The king establishes the land by justice,
But he who receives bribes overthrows it.

A man who (AE)flatters his neighbor
Spreads a net for his feet.

By transgression an evil man is snared,
But the righteous sings and rejoices.

The righteous (AF)considers the cause of the poor,
But the wicked does not understand such knowledge.

Scoffers (AG)set a city aflame,
But wise men turn away wrath.

If a wise man contends with a foolish man,
(AH)Whether the fool rages or laughs, there is no peace.

10 (AI)The bloodthirsty hate the blameless,
But the upright seek his [f]well-being.

11 A fool vents all his (AJ)feelings,[g]
But a wise man holds them back.

12 If a ruler pays attention to lies,
All his servants become wicked.

13 The poor man and the oppressor have this in common:
(AK)The Lord gives light to the eyes of both.

14 The king who judges the (AL)poor with truth,
His throne will be established forever.

15 The rod and rebuke give (AM)wisdom,
But a child left to himself brings shame to his mother.

16 When the wicked are multiplied, transgression increases;
But the righteous will see their (AN)fall.

17 Correct your son, and he will give you rest;
Yes, he will give delight to your soul.

18 (AO)Where there is no [h]revelation, the people cast off restraint;
But (AP)happy is he who keeps the law.

19 A servant will not be corrected by mere words;
For though he understands, he will not respond.

20 Do you see a man hasty in his words?
(AQ)There is more hope for a fool than for him.

21 He who pampers his servant from childhood
Will have him as a son in the end.

22 (AR)An angry man stirs up strife,
And a furious man abounds in transgression.

23 (AS)A man’s pride will bring him low,
But the humble in spirit will retain honor.

24 Whoever is a partner with a thief hates his own life;
(AT)He [i]swears to tell the truth, but reveals nothing.

25 (AU)The fear of man brings a snare,
But whoever trusts in the Lord shall be [j]safe.

26 (AV)Many seek the ruler’s [k]favor,
But justice for man comes from the Lord.

27 An unjust man is an abomination to the righteous,
And he who is upright in the way is an abomination to the wicked.

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 28:3 Lit. and there is no bread
  2. Proverbs 28:12 Lit. will be searched for
  3. Proverbs 28:18 delivered
  4. Proverbs 28:21 Lit. recognize faces
  5. Proverbs 29:2 become great
  6. Proverbs 29:10 Lit. soul or life
  7. Proverbs 29:11 Lit. spirit
  8. Proverbs 29:18 prophetic vision
  9. Proverbs 29:24 Lit. hears the adjuration or oath
  10. Proverbs 29:25 secure, lit. set on high
  11. Proverbs 29:26 Lit. face

Urgent Prayer for the Restored Favor of God(A)

To the Chief Musician. (B)Set to [a]“Lily of the Testimony.” A Michtam of David. For teaching. (C)When he fought against Mesopotamia and Syria of Zobah, and Joab returned and killed twelve thousand Edomites in the Valley of Salt.

60 O God, (D)You have cast us off;
You have broken us down;
You have been displeased;
Oh, restore us again!
You have made the earth tremble;
You have broken it;
(E)Heal its breaches, for it is shaking.
(F)You have shown Your people hard things;
(G)You have made us drink the wine of [b]confusion.

(H)You have given a banner to those who fear You,
That it may be displayed because of the truth. Selah
(I)That Your beloved may be delivered,
Save with Your right hand, and hear me.

God has (J)spoken in His holiness:
“I will rejoice;
I will (K)divide (L)Shechem
And measure out (M)the Valley of Succoth.
Gilead is Mine, and Manasseh is Mine;
(N)Ephraim also is the [c]helmet for My head;
(O)Judah is My lawgiver.
(P)Moab is My washpot;
(Q)Over Edom I will cast My shoe;
(R)Philistia, shout in triumph because of Me.”

Who will bring me to the strong city?
Who will lead me to Edom?
10 Is it not You, O God, (S)who cast us off?
And You, O God, who did (T)not go out with our armies?
11 Give us help from trouble,
(U)For the help of man is useless.
12 Through God (V)we will do valiantly,
For it is He who shall tread down our enemies.

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 60:1 Heb. Shushan Eduth
  2. Psalm 60:3 staggering
  3. Psalm 60:7 Lit. protection

Sister Phoebe Commended

16 I commend to you Phoebe our sister, who is a servant of the church in (A)Cenchrea, (B)that you may receive her in the Lord (C)in a manner worthy of the saints, and assist her in whatever business she has need of you; for indeed she has been a helper of many and of myself also.

Greeting Roman Saints

Greet (D)Priscilla and Aquila, my fellow workers in Christ Jesus, who risked their own necks for my life, to whom not only I give thanks, but also all the churches of the Gentiles. Likewise greet (E)the church that is in their house.

Greet my beloved Epaenetus, who is (F)the firstfruits of [a]Achaia to Christ. Greet Mary, who labored much for us. Greet Andronicus and Junia, my countrymen and my fellow prisoners, who are of note among the (G)apostles, who also (H)were in Christ before me.

Greet Amplias, my beloved in the Lord. Greet Urbanus, our fellow worker in Christ, and Stachys, my beloved. 10 Greet Apelles, approved in Christ. Greet those who are of the household of Aristobulus. 11 Greet Herodion, my [b]countryman. Greet those who are of the household of Narcissus who are in the Lord.

12 Greet Tryphena and Tryphosa, who have labored in the Lord. Greet the beloved Persis, who labored much in the Lord. 13 Greet Rufus, (I)chosen in the Lord, and his mother and mine. 14 Greet Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermas, Patrobas, Hermes, and the brethren who are with them. 15 Greet Philologus and Julia, Nereus and his sister, and Olympas, and all the saints who are with them.

16 (J)Greet one another with a holy kiss. [c]The churches of Christ greet you.

Avoid Divisive Persons

17 Now I urge you, brethren, note those (K)who cause divisions and offenses, contrary to the doctrine which you learned, and (L)avoid them. 18 For those who are such do not serve our Lord [d]Jesus Christ, but (M)their own belly, and (N)by smooth words and flattering speech deceive the hearts of the simple. 19 For (O)your obedience has become known to all. Therefore I am glad on your behalf; but I want you to be (P)wise in what is good, and [e]simple concerning evil. 20 And (Q)the God of peace (R)will crush Satan under your feet shortly.

(S)The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.

Greetings from Paul’s Friends

21 (T)Timothy, my fellow worker, and (U)Lucius, (V)Jason, and (W)Sosipater, my countrymen, greet you.

22 I, Tertius, who wrote this epistle, greet you in the Lord.

23 (X)Gaius, my host and the host of the whole church, greets you. (Y)Erastus, the treasurer of the city, greets you, and Quartus, a brother. 24 (Z)The[f] grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.

Benediction

25 [g]Now (AA)to Him who is able to establish you (AB)according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, (AC)according to the revelation of the mystery (AD)kept secret since the world began 26 but (AE)now made manifest, and by the prophetic Scriptures made known to all nations, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, for (AF)obedience to the faith— 27 to (AG)God, alone wise, be glory through Jesus Christ forever. Amen.

Footnotes

  1. Romans 16:5 NU Asia
  2. Romans 16:11 Or relative
  3. Romans 16:16 NU All the churches
  4. Romans 16:18 NU, M omit Jesus
  5. Romans 16:19 innocent
  6. Romans 16:24 NU omits v. 24.
  7. Romans 16:25 M puts Rom. 16:25–27 after Rom. 14:23.

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