Proverbs 28:7-17

Practice God’s law—get a reputation for wisdom; hang out with a loose crowd—embarrass your family. Get as rich as you want through cheating and extortion, But eventually some friend of the poor is going to give it all back to them. God has no use for the prayers of the people who won’t listen to him. Lead good people down a wrong path and you’ll come to a bad end; do good and you’ll be rewarded for it. The rich think they know it all, but the poor can see right through them. When good people are promoted, everything is great, but when the bad are in charge, watch out! You can’t whitewash your sins and get by with it; you find mercy by admitting and leaving them. A tenderhearted person lives a blessed life; a hardhearted person lives a hard life. Lions roar and bears charge— and the wicked lord it over the poor. Among leaders who lack insight, abuse abounds, but for one who hates corruption, the future is bright. A murderer haunted by guilt is doomed—there’s no helping him.