THE ONE WHO TRUSTS IN THE LORD WILL BE ENRICHED

Proverbs 28:13-28 / Keywords 28:25

A greedy man stirs up dissension, but he who trusts in the LORD will prosper.

28:13 Whoever conceals their sins does not prosper,

    but the one who confesses and renounces them finds mercy.

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 in the grave;

    let no one hold them back.

18 The one whose walk is blameless is kept safe,

    but the one whose ways are perverse will fall into the pit.[b]

19 Those who work their land will have abundant food,

    but those who chase fantasies will have their fill of poverty.

20 A faithful person will be richly blessed,

    but one eager to get rich will not go unpunished.

21 To show partiality is not good—

    yet a person will do wrong for a piece of bread.

22 The stingy are eager to get rich

    and are unaware that poverty awaits them.

23 Whoever rebukes a person will in the end gain favor

    rather than one who has a flattering tongue.

24 Whoever robs their father or mother

    and says, “It’s not wrong,”

    is partner to one who destroys.

25 The greedy stir up conflict,

    but those who trust in the Lord will prosper.

26 Those who trust in themselves are fools,

    but those who walk in wisdom are kept safe.

27 Those who give to the poor will lack nothing,

    but those who close their eyes to them receive many curses.

28 When the wicked rise to power, people go into hiding;

    but when the wicked perish, the righteous thrive.

Footnotes

a. Proverbs 28:3 Or A poor person

b. Proverbs 28:18 Syriac (see Septuagint); Hebrew into one

1. This passage expounds on having true riches versus being greedy. Confessing our sins and receiving mercy is the greatest treasure we could ever have. When we trust in Jesus as our Lord and Savior, his holy blood pays a ransom for our sins and takes away the burden of our sins. We taste freedom, joy, peace, love, hope, and God’s kingdom, which is forever. We are truly rich people. 

2. Greedy and stingy people who only want to get rich in this life will stumble and fall. They are despicable and would even rob their own parents. They are cruel and hate justice. Their greed makes them crooked, and they follow worthless pursuits. They are truly impoverished. Such greedy people bring about every kind of strife in this world. 

3. But the one who trusts in the Lord is truly enriched. They can walk in the ways of the Lord, have wisdom for their lives, and be delivered from all kinds of pitfalls, temptations, and sins. Moreover, they know how to be generous to the poor. How much God blesses us in return! 

Prayer Father, thank you for enriching my life through Jesus. Please help me trust in you, be a generous person, and give to the poor. 

One Word The one who trusts in the Lord will be blessed with true riches