Proverbs 28 is the 28th chapter of the Book of Proverbs in the Hebrew Bible or the Old Testament of the ChristianBible.[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]
Text
Hebrew
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).
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]
Proverbs 25–27: characterized by many similes and the 'earthy' tone
Proverbs 28–29: characterized by many antithetical sayings and the predominantly 'moral and religious' tone (cf. Proverbs 10–15)
"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]
Verse 2
Because of the transgression of a land, many are its princes;
But by a man of understanding and knowledge
Right will be prolonged.[13]
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]
Verse 8
One who increases his possessions by usury and extortion
Gathers it for him who will pity the poor.[19]