The Righteous are as Bold as a Lion

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

2By the transgression of a land many [are] its heads. And by an intelligent man, Who knoweth right — it is prolonged.

3A man — poor and oppressing the weak, [Is] a sweeping rain, and there is no bread.

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

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

6Better [is] the poor walking in his integrity, Than the perverse of ways who is rich.

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

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

9Whoso is turning his ear from hearing the law, Even his prayer [is] an abomination.

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

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

12In the exulting of the righteous the glory [is] abundant, And in the rising of the wicked man is apprehensive.

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

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

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

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

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

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

19Whoso is tilling his ground is satisfied [with] bread, And whoso is pursuing vanity, Is filled [with] poverty.

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

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

22Troubled for wealth [is] the man [with] an evil eye, And he knoweth not that want doth meet him.

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

24Whoso is robbing his father, or his mother, And is saying, ‘It is not transgression,’ A companion he is to a destroyer.

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

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

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

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