BLESSED IS HE WHO ALWAYS FEAR THE LORD

Passage: Proverbs 28:13-28

Key verse: 14

NIV

13 Whoever conceals their sins(A) does not prosper,
    but the one who confesses(B) and renounces them finds mercy.(C)

14 Blessed is the one who always trembles before God,
    but whoever hardens their heart falls into trouble.

15 Like a roaring lion or a charging bear
    is a wicked ruler over a helpless people.

16 A tyrannical ruler practices extortion,
    but one who hates ill-gotten gain will enjoy a long reign.

17 Anyone tormented by the guilt of murder
    will seek refuge(D) in the grave;
    let no one hold them back.

18 The one whose walk is blameless is kept safe,(E)
    but the one whose ways are perverse will fall(F) into the pit.[a]

19 Those who work their land will have abundant food,
    but those who chase fantasies will have their fill of poverty.(G)

20 A faithful person will be richly blessed,
    but one eager to get rich will not go unpunished.(H)

21 To show partiality(I) is not good(J)—
    yet a person will do wrong for a piece of bread.(K)

22 The stingy are eager to get rich
    and are unaware that poverty awaits them.(L)

23 Whoever rebukes a person will in the end gain favor
    rather than one who has a flattering tongue.(M)

24 Whoever robs their father or mother(N)
    and says, “It’s not wrong,”
    is partner to one who destroys.(O)

25 The greedy stir up conflict,(P)
    but those who trust in the Lord(Q) will prosper.

26 Those who trust in themselves are fools,(R)
    but those who walk in wisdom are kept safe.(S)

27 Those who give to the poor will lack nothing,(T)
    but those who close their eyes to them receive many curses.(U)

28 When the wicked rise to power, people go into hiding;(V)
    but when the wicked perish, the righteous thrive.

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Footnotes
  1. Proverbs 28:18 Syriac (see Septuagint); Hebrew into one
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway

ESV

13 Whoever (A)conceals his transgressions will not prosper,
    but he who (B)confesses and forsakes them will obtain mercy.
14 Blessed is the one who (C)fears the Lord[a] always,
    but whoever (D)hardens his heart will fall into calamity.
15 Like (E)a roaring lion or (F)a charging bear
    is (G)a wicked ruler over a poor people.
16 A ruler who (H)lacks understanding is a cruel oppressor,
    but he who hates unjust gain will prolong his days.
17 If one is burdened with (I)the blood of another,
    he will be a fugitive until death;[b]
    let no one help him.
18 (J)Whoever (K)walks in integrity will be delivered,
    but he who is crooked in his ways will suddenly fall.
19 (L)Whoever works his land will have plenty of bread,
    but he who follows worthless pursuits will have plenty of poverty.
20 A faithful man will abound with blessings,
    but whoever hastens to be rich (M)will not go unpunished.
21 To show (N)partiality is not good,
    but for (O)a piece of bread a man will do wrong.
22 A (P)stingy man[c] (Q)hastens after wealth
    and does not know that (R)poverty will come upon him.
23 Whoever (S)rebukes a man will afterward find more favor
    than (T)he who flatters with his tongue.
24 Whoever robs his father or his mother
    and says, “That is no transgression,”
    is (U)a companion to a man who destroys.
25 A greedy man (V)stirs up strife,
    but the one who trusts in the Lord will (W)be enriched.
26 Whoever (X)trusts in his own mind is a fool,
    but he who walks in wisdom will be delivered.
27 Whoever (Y)gives to the poor will not want,
    but he who (Z)hides his eyes will get many a curse.
28 When (AA)the wicked rise, (AB)people hide themselves,
    but when they perish, the righteous increase.

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Footnotes
  1. Proverbs 28:14 Hebrew lacks the Lord
  2. Proverbs 28:17 Hebrew until the pit
  3. Proverbs 28:22 Hebrew A man whose eye is evil
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway
1. Blessed is he who confesses his sins (13-18) He who conceals his sins will not prosper but he who confesses and turns from them finds mercy. He who fears God always will be blessed but he who hardens his heart falls into trouble. A man who does not repent will be a fugitive tormented by a guilty conscience until death like Cain, but the blameless will be kept safe. 2. He who trusts in the Lord will prosper (19-28) A hard worker will have abundant food and a faithful man will be richly blessed. Showing partiality is never good. He who rebukes a man will get more favor in the end. We must respect our parents. Trusting the Lord leads to prosperity. He who gives to the poor will lack nothing. When the wicked rise to power, people hide. When the wicked perish, the righteous thrive.

Prayer: Lord, let me repent and fear the Lord always.

One Word: Repent and trust the Lord