Proverbs 28

Proverbs 28
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The whole Book of Proverbs in the Leningrad Codex (1008 C.E.) from an old fascimile edition.
Book	Book of Proverbs
Category	Ketuvim
Christian Bible part	Old Testament
Order in the Christian part	21

Proverbs 28 is the 28th chapter of the Book of Proverbs in the Hebrew Bible or the Old Testament of the Christian Bible.^[1][2] The book is a compilation of several wisdom literature collections, with the heading in 1:1 may be intended to regard Solomon as the traditional author of the whole book, but the dates of the individual collections are difficult to determine, and the book probably obtained its final shape in the post-exilic period.^[3] This chapter is the last part of the fifth collection of the book,^[4] so-called "the Second Solomonic Collection."^[5]

The following table shows the Hebrew text^[6][7] of Proverbs 28 with vowels alongside an English translation based upon the JPS 1917 translation (now in the public domain).

Some early manuscripts containing the text of this chapter in Hebrew are of the Masoretic Text, which includes the Aleppo Codex (10th century), and Codex Leningradensis (1008).^[8]

There is also a translation into Koine Greek known as the Septuagint, made in the last few centuries BC; some extant ancient manuscripts of this version include Codex Vaticanus (B; ${\displaystyle {\mathfrak {G}}}$^B; 4th century), Codex Sinaiticus (S; BHK: ${\displaystyle {\mathfrak {G}}}$^S; 4th century), and Codex Alexandrinus (A; ${\displaystyle {\mathfrak {G}}}$^A; 5th century).^[9]

This chapter belongs to a further collection of Solomonic proverbs, transmitted and edited by royal scribes during the reign of Hezekiah, comprising Proverbs 25–29.^[10] Based on differences in style and subject-matter there could be two originally separate collections:^[10]

1. Proverbs 25–27: characterized by many similes and the 'earthy' tone
2. Proverbs 28–29: characterized by many antithetical sayings and the predominantly 'moral and religious' tone (cf. Proverbs 10–15)

The wicked flee when no one pursues,

but the righteous are bold as a lion.^[11]

• "The wicked flee": the insecurity of a guilty person—that person flees because of a guilty conscience, or because of suspicion of others around, or because that person fears judgment.^[12]

Because of the transgression of a land, many are its princes;
But by a man of understanding and knowledge
Right will be prolonged.^[13]

New Revised Standard Version attempts to clarify the verse with a more intelligible reading:^[14]

When a land rebels,
it has many rulers;
but with an intelligent ruler
there is lasting order.^[15]

The reign of Hezekiah is associated with attempts to restore the union of Judah and Israel by political and religious means, which both proved unsuccessful.^[16]

In the Septuagint, this verse is presented as a saying about quarrelling:^[17]

By reason of the sins of ungodly men quarrels arise; but a wise man will quell them.^[18]

One who increases his possessions by usury and extortion
Gathers it for him who will pity the poor.^[19]

• "Usury": is banned under the Mosaic law, by Exodus 22:25 and Leviticus 25:36–37.^[20]

God detests the prayers
    of a person who ignores the law.
^[21]

He who leads the upright astray in an evil way
Will himself fall into his own pit,
But the blameless will inherit good.
^[22]

A man of wealth is wise in his own eyes,
    but the intelligent poor sees through him. ^[23]

When good people come to power, everybody celebrates, but when bad people rule, people stay in hiding. ^[24]

If you hide your sins, you will not succeed.
    If you confess and reject them, you will receive mercy. ^[25]

• Aitken, K. T. (2007). "19. Proverbs". In Barton, John; Muddiman, John (eds.). The Oxford Bible Commentary (first (paperback) ed.). Oxford University Press. pp. 405–422. ISBN 978-0199277186. Retrieved February 6, 2019.
• Alter, Robert (2010). The Wisdom Books: Job, Proverbs, and Ecclesiastes: A Translation with Commentary. W.W. Norton & Co. ISBN 978-0393080735.
• Coogan, Michael David (2007). Coogan, Michael David; Brettler, Marc Zvi; Newsom, Carol Ann; Perkins, Pheme (eds.). The New Oxford Annotated Bible with the Apocryphal/Deuterocanonical Books: New Revised Standard Version, Issue 48 (Augmented 3rd ed.). Oxford University Press. ISBN 9780195288810.
• Farmer, Kathleen A. (1998). "The Wisdom Books". In McKenzie, Steven L.; Graham, Matt Patrick (eds.). The Hebrew Bible Today: An Introduction to Critical Issues. Westminster John Knox Press. ISBN 978-0-66425652-4.
• Fox, Michael V. (2009). Proverbs 10-31: A New Translation with Introduction and Commentary. Anchor Yale Bible Commentaries. Yale University Press. ISBN 978-0300155563.
• Halley, Henry H. (1965). Halley's Bible Handbook: an abbreviated Bible commentary (24th (revised) ed.). Zondervan Publishing House. ISBN 0-310-25720-4.
• Perdue, Leo G. (2012). Proverbs Interpretation: A Bible Commentary for Teaching and Preaching. Presbyterian Publishing Corporation. ISBN 978-0664238841.
• Würthwein, Ernst (1995). The Text of the Old Testament. Translated by Rhodes, Erroll F. Grand Rapids, MI: Wm. B. Eerdmans. ISBN 0-8028-0788-7. Retrieved January 26, 2019.

• Jewish translations:
  • Mishlei - Proverbs - Chapter 28 (Judaica Press) translation [with Rashi's commentary] at Chabad.org
• Christian translations:
  • Online Bible at GospelHall.org (ESV, KJV, Darby, American Standard Version, Bible in Basic English)
• Book of Proverbs Chapter 28 King James Version
• Book of Proverbs public domain audiobook at LibriVox Various versions