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1 Wicked people run away even when no one is pursuing them,but good people are not afraid; they are as brave as lions.
2 When the people of a nation sin, they will have one ruler after another;
but when their leaders are wise and have good sense, their government will last for a long time.
3 A poor person who oppresses other poor people
is like a very hard rain that destroys the crops with the result that there is no food for people to eat.
4 Those who reject God's laws are speaking well of wicked people;
but those who obey God's laws always oppose what wicked people do.
5 Evil people do not understand what it means to act justly,
but those who try to worship Yahweh understand that very well.
6 It is better to be honest even though you are poor
then to be dishonest even though you are rich.
7 Young people who obey the laws are wise;
parents whose children associate with those who go to wild parties are disgraced because of what their children do.
8 When people become very rich by charging very big interest,
their money will eventually go to someone who does kind things for the poor.
9 If people do not obey God's laws,
God detests their prayers.
10 Those who cause honest people to do what is evil
will fall into their own traps,
but good things will happen to those who have not done what is wrong.
11 Many rich people think that they are wise,
but poor people who have good sense will find out whether the rich people really are wise or not.
12 When good people win elections, everyone celebrates;
but when wicked people win, everyone hides because they are afraid of what the wicked people will do.
13 Those who refuse to confess their sins will not prosper,
but God acts mercifully toward those who confess their sins and turn away from their sinful behavior.
14 God is pleased with those who always revere him,
but those who are stubborn will experience disasters.
15 Wicked people who mistreat poor people whom they rule
are as dangerous to them as a lion roaring at them or a bear springing up at them.
16 Rulers who do not have good sense cruelly oppress the people they rule,
but rulers who do not want to become rich by cheating people will live for a long time.
17 Those who are guilty of murdering another person
will be fugitives until they die;
do not help them to escape.
18 Those who continually do what is right will be safe,
but those who are dishonest will suddenly be ruined.
19 Farmers who work hard in their fields will produce good crops and always have plenty of food to eat,
but those who spend all their time on useless projects will become very poor.
20 God will greatly bless those who are trustworthy,
but he will certainly punish those who try to become rich quickly.
21 It is not good for judges to decide matters unfairly,
but some people will do what is wrong even if they receive only a very small bribe for doing it.
22 Selfish people are very eager to become rich quickly;
they do not realize that they will soon become poor.
23 Those who rebuke someone will be appreciated more
than those who say nice things to others merely to flatter them.
24 Anyone who steals things from his father or his mother
and says “That is not sinful”
is as bad as a bandit.
25 Greedy people cause trouble;
those who trust in Yahweh will prosper.
26 Those who believe that what they think is always right are foolish;
those who act wisely will escape danger.
27 Those who give things to poor people will not become poor,
but many people will curse those who refuse to help poor people.
28 When wicked people become rulers, people hide because they are afraid of what those wicked people will do;
but when the wicked people are no longer rulers, righteous people will become the rulers.