28:1 The wicked person flees when there is no one pursuing, 1
but the righteous person is as confident 2 as a lion.
1 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.
2 tn The verb בָּטַח (batakh) means “to trust; to be secure; to be confident.” Cf. KJV, NASB, NIV, NRSV, NLT “bold.”
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.
3 tn Or “Lord, take notice of.”
4 sn Grant to your servants to speak your message with great courage. The request is not for a stop to persecution or revenge on the opponents, but for boldness (great courage) to carry out the mission of proclaiming the message of what God is doing through Jesus.
5 tn Grk “slaves.” See the note on the word “servants” in 2:18.
6 tn Grk “word.”
7 tn Or “with all boldness.”