Proverbs 28:1
“The wicked flee when no man pursueth: but the righteous are bold as a lion.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Context
Opening chapter 28, this proverb introduces a series contrasting the righteous and the wicked, beginning with the inner difference between a guilty heart and a clear conscience.
What Does Proverbs 28:1 Mean?
Proverbs 28:1 contrasts the fearful flight of the guilty with the lion-like boldness of those who live rightly. The first line paints a vivid picture: "The wicked flee when no man pursueth." Guilt creates its own pursuers. Even with no real threat present, the one who lives in wrongdoing is haunted by anxiety, suspicion, and dread, running from shadows because a troubled conscience never rests.
The second line offers the bright contrast: "the righteous are bold as a lion." Those who walk in integrity carry a clear conscience, and that inner freedom produces a calm, fearless confidence. The lion, unafraid and unhurried, becomes the picture of the upright person who has nothing to hide and therefore nothing to fear. This boldness is not arrogance or recklessness; it is the quiet strength that comes from right living and trust in God. The proverb exposes a deep truth about the inner life: how we live shapes how we feel. Wrongdoing breeds fear from within, while righteousness breeds courage. For the reader, the verse is an invitation to the kind of integrity that frees the heart, allowing one to stand tall and unashamed because there is nothing pursuing from behind.
In the Original Language
The verb "flee" is "nus," to flee or escape. "Bold" is from "batach," to trust or be confident, and "lion" is "kephir," a young, vigorous lion in its prime strength.
Cross References
Application
Pursue a clear conscience through honest, upright living, and let the inner freedom it brings give you calm, lion-like courage rather than the dread that haunts wrongdoing.