Amsal 28:20

28:20 A faithful person ¹  will have an abundance of blessings,

but the one who hastens ²  to gain riches will not go unpunished.

Amsal 28:1

28:1 The wicked person flees when there is no one pursuing, ³ 

but the righteous person is as confident ⁴  as a lion.

Titus 1:9

1:9 He must hold firmly to the faithful message as it has been taught, ⁵  so that he will be able to give exhortation in such healthy teaching ⁶  and correct those who speak against it.

[28:20]  ¹ tn Heb “a man of faithfulness,” although the context does not indicate this should be limited only to males.

[28:20]  sn The text does not qualify the nature of the faithfulness. While this would certainly have implications for the person’s righteous acts, its primary meaning may be his diligence and reliability in his work. His faithful work will bring the returns.

[28:20]  ² sn The proverb is not rebuking diligent labor. One who is eager to get rich quickly is the opposite of the faithful person. The first person is faithful to God and to the covenant community; the second is trying to get rich as quickly as possible, at the least without doing an honest day’s work and at the worst dishonestly. In a hurry to gain wealth, he falls into various schemes and will pay for it. Tg. Prov 28:20 interprets this to say he hastens through deceit and wrongdoing.

[28:1]  ³ sn The line portrays the insecurity of a guilty person – he flees because he has a guilty conscience, or because he is suspicious of others around him, or because he fears judgment.

[28:1]  ⁴ tn The verb בָּטַח (batakh) means “to trust; to be secure; to be confident.” Cf. KJV, NASB, NIV, NRSV, NLT “bold.”

[28:1]  sn The righteous, who seek to find favor with God and man, have a clear conscience and do not need to look over their shoulders for avengers or law enforcers. Their position is one of confidence, so that they do not flee.

[1:9]  ⁵ tn Grk “the faithful message in accordance with the teaching” (referring to apostolic teaching).

[1:9]  ⁶ tn Grk “the healthy teaching” (referring to what was just mentioned).