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Proverbs chapter 28 in Hebrew and English

28 verses, about 3 minutes to read aloud. The Hebrew has its vowel points and the English stands under each verse.

The whole chapter is here, a verse to a line.

נָסוּ וְאֵין־רֹדֵף רָשָׁע וְצַדִּיקִים כִּכְפִיר יִבְטָֽח׃

The wicked flee when no man pursueth; But the righteous are secure as a young lion.

בְּפֶשַׁע אֶרֶץ רַבִּים שָׂרֶיהָ וּבְאָדָם מֵבִין יֹדֵעַ כֵּן יַאֲרִֽיךְ׃

For the transgression of a land many are the princes thereof; But by a man of understanding and knowledge established order shall long continue.

גּבֶר רָשׁ וְעֹשֵׁק דַּלִּים מָטָר סֹחֵף וְאֵין לָֽחֶם׃

A poor man that oppresseth the weak Is like a sweeping rain which leaveth no food.

עֹזְבֵי תוֹרָה יְהַלְלוּ רָשָׁע וְשֹׁמְרֵי תוֹרָה יִתְגָּרוּ בָֽם׃

They that forsake the law praise the wicked; But such as keep the law contend with them.

אַנְשֵׁי־רָע לֹא־יָבִינוּ מִשְׁפָּט וּמְבַקְשֵׁי יְהוָה יָבִינוּ כֹֽל׃

Evil men understand not justice; But they that seek the LORD understand all things.

טוֹב־רָשׁ הוֹלֵךְ בְּתֻמּוֹ מֵעִקֵּשׁ דְּרָכַיִם וְהוּא עָשִֽׁיר׃

Better is the poor that walketh in his integrity, Than he that is perverse in his ways, though he be rich.

נוֹצֵר תּוֹרָה בֵּן מֵבִין וְרֹעֶה זוֹלְלִים יַכְלִים אָבִֽיו׃

A wise son observeth the teaching; But he that is a companion of gluttonous men shameth his father.

מַרְבֶּה הוֹנוֹ בְּנֶשֶׁךְ וְתַרְבִּית לְחוֹנֵן דַּלִּים יִקְבְּצֶֽנּוּ׃

He that augmenteth his substance by interest and increase, Gathereth it for him that is gracious to the poor.

מֵסִיר אָזְנוֹ מִשְּׁמֹעַ תּוֹרָה גַּם תְּפִלָּתוֹ תּוֹעֵבָֽה׃

He that turneth away his ear from hearing the law, Even his prayer is an abomination.

מַשְׁגֶּה יְשָׁרִים בְּדֶרֶךְ רָע בִּשְׁחוּתוֹ הוּא־יִפּוֹל וּתְמִימִים יִנְחֲלוּ־טֽוֹב׃

Whoso causeth the upright to go astray in an evil way, He shall fall himself into his own pit; But the whole-hearted shall inherit good.

חָכָם בְּעֵינָיו אִישׁ עָשִׁיר וְדַל מֵבִין יַחְקְרֶֽנּוּ׃

The rich man is wise in his own eyes; But the poor that hath understanding searcheth him through.

בַּעֲלֹץ צַדִּיקִים רַבָּה תִפְאָרֶת וּבְקוּם רְשָׁעִים יְחֻפַּשׂ אָדָֽם׃

When the righteous exult, there is great glory; But when the wicked rise, men must be sought for.

מְכַסֶּה פְשָׁעָיו לֹא יַצְלִיחַ וּמוֹדֶה וְעֹזֵב יְרֻחָֽם׃

He that covereth his transgressions shall not prosper; But whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall obtain mercy.

אַשְׁרֵי אָדָם מְפַחֵד תָּמִיד וּמַקְשֶׁה לִבּוֹ יִפּוֹל בְּרָעָֽה׃

Happy is the man that feareth alway; But he that hardeneth his heart shall fall into evil.

אֲרִי־נֹהֵם וְדֹב שׁוֹקֵק מֹשֵׁל רָשָׁע עַל עַם־דָּֽל׃

As a roaring lion, and a ravenous bear; So is a wicked ruler over a poor people.

נָגִיד חֲסַר תְּבוּנוֹת וְרַב מַעֲשַׁקּוֹת שֹׂנֵא בֶצַע יַאֲרִיךְ יָמִֽים׃

The prince that lacketh understanding is also a great oppressor; But he that hateth covetousness shall prolong his days.

אָדָם עָשֻׁק בְּדַם־נָפֶשׁ עַד־בּוֹר יָנוּס אַל־יִתְמְכוּ־בֽוֹ׃

A man that is laden with the blood of any person Shall hasten his steps unto the pit; none will support him.

הוֹלֵךְ תָּמִים יִוָּשֵׁעַ וְנֶעְקַשׁ דְּרָכַיִם יִפּוֹל בְּאֶחָֽת׃

Whoso walketh uprightly shall be saved; But he that is perverse in his ways shall fall at once.

עֹבֵד אַדְמָתוֹ יִשְׂבַּע־לָחֶם וּמְרַדֵּף רֵקִים יִֽשְׂבַּֽע־רִֽישׁ׃

He that tilleth his ground shall have plenty of bread; But he that followeth after vain things shall have poverty enough.

אִישׁ אֱמוּנוֹת רַב־בְּרָכוֹת וְאָץ לְהַעֲשִׁיר לֹא יִנָּקֶֽה׃

A faithful man shall abound with blessings; But he that maketh haste to be rich shall not be unpunished.

הַכֵּר־פָּנִים לֹא־טוֹב וְעַל־פַּת־לֶחֶם יִפְשַׁע־גָּֽבֶר׃

To have respect of persons is not good; For a man will transgress for a piece of bread.

נִבֳהָל לַהוֹן אִישׁ רַע עָיִן וְלֹא־יֵדַע כִּי־חֶסֶר יְבֹאֶֽנּוּ׃

He that hath an evil eye hasteneth after riches, And knoweth not that want shall come upon him.

מוֹכִיחַ אָדָם אַחֲרַי חֵן יִמְצָא מִמַּחֲלִיק לָשֽׁוֹן׃

He that rebuketh a man shall in the end find more favour Than he that flattereth with the tongue.

גּוֹזֵל אָבִיו וְאִמּוֹ וְאֹמֵר אֵין־פָּשַׁע חָבֵר הוּא לְאִישׁ מַשְׁחִֽית׃

Whoso robbeth his father or his mother, and saith: ‘It is no transgression’, The same is the companion of a destroyer.

רְחַב־נֶפֶשׁ יְגָרֶה מָדוֹן וּבוֹטֵחַ עַל־יְהוָה יְדֻשָּֽׁן׃

He that is of a greedy spirit stirreth up strife; But he that putteth his trust in the LORD shall be abundantly gratified.

בּוֹטֵחַ בְּלִבּוֹ הוּא כְסִיל וְהוֹלֵךְ בְּחָכְמָה הוּא יִמָּלֵֽט׃

He that trusteth in his own heart is a fool; But whoso walketh wisely, he shall escape.

נוֹתֵן לָרָשׁ אֵין מַחְסוֹר וּמַעְלִים עֵינָיו רַב־מְאֵרֽוֹת׃

He that giveth unto the poor shall not lack; But he that hideth his eyes shall have many a curse.

בְּקוּם רְשָׁעִים יִסָּתֵר אָדָם וּבְאָבְדָם יִרְבּוּ צַדִּיקִֽים׃

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

The Hebrew is the Leningrad Codex, free to view and copy, compared letter by letter with a second edition, Miqra according to the Masorah, under the CC BY-SA licence. The English is the Jewish Publication Society translation of 1917, in the public domain.

Where this chapter stands in the Tanakh.

  • Chapter 28 of the 31 chapters of Proverbs
  • Proverbs is one of the Writings
  • 28 verses, 229 words, about 3 minutes to read

Proverbs has 31 chapters, and each one has its own page.

All of Proverbs·All the books of the Tanakh·Psalms and prayers

Questions about this chapter

How many verses does Proverbs chapter 28 have?

Proverbs chapter 28 has 28 verses and 229 words.

How does Proverbs chapter 28 begin?

The first verse begins in Hebrew with the words נסו ואין־רדף רשע וצדיקים.

Where does Proverbs chapter 28 stand in the Tanakh?

It is chapter 28 of the 31 chapters of Proverbs, which is one of the Writings.

How long does it take to read Proverbs chapter 28?

About 3 minutes, at a steady pace.