15  Like ^ba roaring lion or ^ca charging bear

is ^da wicked ruler over a poor people.

16  A ruler who ^elacks understanding is a cruel oppressor,

but he who hates unjust gain will prolong his days.

17  If one is burdened with ^fthe blood of another,

he will be a fugitive until death;¹

let no one help him.

18  ^gWhoever ^hwalks in integrity will be delivered,

but he who is crooked in his ways will suddenly fall.

19  ⁱWhoever 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 ^jwill not go unpunished.

21  To show ^kpartiality is not good,

but for ^la piece of bread a man will do wrong.

22  A ^mstingy man^{2 n}hastens after wealth

and does not know that ^opoverty will come upon him.

23  Whoever ^prebukes a man will afterward find more favor

than ^qhe who flatters with his tongue.

24  Whoever robs his father or his mother

and says, “That is no transgression,”

is ^ra companion to a man who destroys.

25  A greedy man ^sstirs up strife,

but the one who trusts in the Lord will ^tbe enriched.

26  Whoever ^utrusts in his own mind is a fool,

but he who walks in wisdom will be delivered.

27  Whoever ^vgives to the poor will not want,

but he who ^whides his eyes will get many a curse.

28  When ^xthe wicked rise, ^ypeople hide themselves,

but when they perish, the righteous increase.