Proverbs 28:16

NET Bible® (New English Translation)

The prince who is a great oppressor lacks wisdom, but the one who hates unjust gain will prolong his days.

Additional Resources

Referenced Verses

  • Isa 3:12 : 12 Oppressors treat my people cruelly; creditors rule over them. My people’s leaders mislead them; they give you confusing directions.
  • Isa 33:15-16 : 15 The one who lives uprightly and speaks honestly; the one who refuses to profit from oppressive measures and rejects a bribe; the one who does not plot violent crimes and does not seek to harm others– 16 This is the person who will live in a secure place; he will find safety in the rocky, mountain strongholds; he will have food and a constant supply of water.
  • Jer 22:15-17 : 15 Does it make you any more of a king that you outstrip everyone else in building with cedar? Just think about your father. He was content that he had food and drink. He did what was just and right. So things went well with him. 16 He upheld the cause of the poor and needy. So things went well for Judah.’ The LORD says,‘That is a good example of what it means to know me.’ 17 But you are always thinking and looking for ways to increase your wealth by dishonest means. Your eyes and your heart are set on killing some innocent person and committing fraud and oppression.
  • Amos 4:1 : 1 Listen to this message, you cows of Bashan who live on Mount Samaria! You oppress the poor; you crush the needy. You say to your husbands,“Bring us more to drink!”
  • Exod 18:21 : 21 But you choose from the people capable men, God-fearing, men of truth, those who hate bribes, and put them over the people as rulers of thousands, rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens.
  • 1 Kgs 12:10 : 10 The young advisers with whom Rehoboam had grown up said to him,“Say this to these people who have said to you,‘Your father made us work hard, but now lighten our burden.’ Say this to them:‘I am a lot harsher than my father!
  • 1 Kgs 12:14 : 14 and followed the advice of the younger ones. He said,“My father imposed heavy demands on you; I will make them even heavier. My father punished you with ordinary whips; I will punish you with whips that really sting your flesh.”
  • Neh 5:15 : 15 But the former governors who preceded me had burdened the people and had taken food and wine from them, in addition to forty shekels of silver. Their associates were also domineering over the people. But I did not behave in this way, due to my fear of God.
  • Eccl 4:1 : 1 Evil Oppression on Earth So I again considered all the oppression that continually occurs on earth. This is what I saw: The oppressed were in tears, but no one was comforting them; no one delivers them from the power of their oppressors.

Similar Verses (AI)

These verses are found using AI-powered semantic similarity based on meaning and context. Results may occasionally include unexpected connections.

  • Prov 28:15
    80%

    15Like a roaring lion or a roving bear, so is a wicked ruler over a poor people.

  • Prov 28:2-3
    2 verses
    79%

    2When a country is rebellious it has many princes, but by someone who is discerning and knowledgeable order is maintained.

    3A poor person who oppresses the weak is like a driving rain without food.

  • Prov 22:16
    77%

    16The one who oppresses the poor to increase his own gain and the one who gives to the rich– both end up only in poverty.

  • Prov 21:26
    74%

    26All day long he has craved greedily, but the righteous gives and does not hold back.

  • Prov 14:28-29
    2 verses
    74%

    28A king’s glory is the abundance of people, but the lack of subjects is the ruin of a ruler.

    29Someone with great understanding is slow to anger, but the one who has a quick temper exalts folly.

  • Prov 28:17
    74%

    17The one who is tormented by the murder of another will flee to the pit; let no one support him.

  • Prov 15:27
    73%

    27The one who is greedy for gain troubles his household, but whoever hates bribes will live.

  • Prov 28:11
    73%

    11A rich person is wise in his own opinion, but a discerning poor person can evaluate him properly.

  • Prov 28:8
    73%

    8The one who increases his wealth by increasing interest gathers it for someone who is gracious to the needy.

  • Eccl 7:7
    72%

    7Human Wisdom Overturned by Adversity Surely oppression can turn a wise person into a fool; likewise, a bribe corrupts the heart.

  • Prov 14:17-18
    2 verses
    72%

    17A person who has a quick temper will do foolish things, and a person with crafty schemes will be hated.

    18The naive have inherited folly, but the shrewd will be crowned with knowledge.

  • Prov 14:31
    72%

    31The one who oppresses the poor has insulted his Creator, but whoever honors him shows favor to the needy.

  • Eccl 10:5
    72%

    5I have seen another misfortune on the earth: It is an error a ruler makes.

  • Prov 28:22
    72%

    22The stingy person hastens after riches and does not know that poverty will overtake him.

  • Job 15:20
    72%

    20All his days the wicked man suffers torment, throughout the number of the years that are stored up for the tyrant.

  • Prov 29:1-2
    2 verses
    71%

    1The one who stiffens his neck after numerous rebukes will suddenly be destroyed without remedy.

    2When the righteous become numerous, the people rejoice; when the wicked rule, the people groan.

  • Prov 28:5-6
    2 verses
    71%

    5Evil people do not understand justice, but those who seek the LORD understand it all.

    6A poor person who walks in his integrity is better than one who is perverse in his ways even though he is rich.

  • Hab 2:9
    71%

    9The one who builds his house by unjust gain is as good as dead. He does this so he can build his nest way up high and escape the clutches of disaster.

  • Prov 1:19
    71%

    19Such are the ways of all who gain profit unjustly; it takes away the life of those who obtain it!

  • Isa 33:15
    71%

    15The one who lives uprightly and speaks honestly; the one who refuses to profit from oppressive measures and rejects a bribe; the one who does not plot violent crimes and does not seek to harm others–

  • Mic 7:3
    71%

    3They are experts at doing evil; government officials and judges take bribes, prominent men announce what they wish and then they plan it out.

  • Prov 17:7
    71%

    7Excessive speech is not becoming for a fool; how much less are lies for a ruler!

  • Prov 3:31
    70%

    31Do not envy a violent man, and do not choose any of his ways;

  • Job 34:17
    70%

    17Do you really think that one who hates justice can govern? And will you declare guilty the supremely Righteous One,

  • Eccl 10:16
    70%

    16The Problem with Foolish Rulers Woe to you, O land, when your king is childish, and your princes feast in the morning!

  • Prov 28:27
    70%

    27The one who gives to the poor will not lack, but whoever shuts his eyes to them will receive many curses.

  • Prov 19:10
    70%

    10Luxury is not appropriate for a fool; how much less for a servant to rule over princes!

  • Prov 17:19
    70%

    19The one who loves a quarrel loves transgression; whoever builds his gate high seeks destruction.

  • Prov 17:26-27
    2 verses
    70%

    26It is terrible to punish a righteous person, and to flog honorable men is wrong.

    27The truly wise person restrains his words, and the one who stays calm is discerning.

  • Hab 2:6
    70%

    6The Proud Babylonians Are as Good as Dead“But all these nations will someday taunt him and ridicule him with proverbial sayings:‘Woe to the one who accumulates what does not belong to him(How long will this go on?)– he who gets rich by extortion!’

  • Prov 28:20
    70%

    20A faithful person will have an abundance of blessings, but the one who hastens to gain riches will not go unpunished.

  • Prov 29:22
    70%

    22An angry person stirs up dissension, and a wrathful person is abounding in transgression.

  • Prov 16:14
    70%

    14A king’s wrath is like a messenger of death, but a wise person appeases it.

  • Prov 20:2
    70%

    2The king’s terrifying anger is like the roar of a lion; whoever provokes him sins against himself.

  • Eccl 5:8
    70%

    8Government Corruption If you see the extortion of the poor, or the perversion of justice and fairness in the government, do not be astonished by the matter. For the high official is watched by a higher official, and there are higher ones over them!

  • Prov 11:12
    70%

    12The one who denounces his neighbor lacks sense, but a discerning person keeps silent.

  • Isa 3:5
    70%

    5The people will treat each other harshly; men will oppose each other; neighbors will fight. Youths will proudly defy the elderly and riffraff will challenge those who were once respected.

  • Prov 27:12
    70%

    12A shrewd person saw danger–he hid himself; the naive passed right on by– they had to pay for it.

  • Hos 12:7
    70%

    7The Lord Refutes Israel’s False Claim of Innocence The businessmen love to cheat; they use dishonest scales.

  • Prov 28:25
    69%

    25The greedy person stirs up dissension, but the one who trusts in the LORD will prosper.

  • Prov 22:12
    69%

    12The eyes of the LORD watched over a cause, and subverted the words of the treacherous person.

  • Jer 22:17
    69%

    17But you are always thinking and looking for ways to increase your wealth by dishonest means. Your eyes and your heart are set on killing some innocent person and committing fraud and oppression.

  • Prov 13:15
    69%

    15Keen insight wins favor, but the conduct of the treacherous ends in destruction.

  • Prov 22:7
    69%

    7The rich rule over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the lender.