Happy Is He Who Keeps the Law

29 He(A) who is often rebuked, and hardens his neck,
Will suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy.

When the righteous [a]are in authority, the (B)people rejoice;
But when a wicked man rules, (C)the people groan.

Whoever loves wisdom makes his father rejoice,
But a companion of harlots wastes his wealth.

The king establishes the land by justice,
But he who receives bribes overthrows it.

A man who (D)flatters his neighbor
Spreads a net for his feet.

By transgression an evil man is snared,
But the righteous sings and rejoices.

The righteous (E)considers the cause of the poor,
But the wicked does not understand such knowledge.

Scoffers (F)set a city aflame,
But wise men turn away wrath.

If a wise man contends with a foolish man,
(G)Whether the fool rages or laughs, there is no peace.

10 (H)The bloodthirsty hate the blameless,
But the upright seek his [b]well-being.

11 A fool vents all his (I)feelings,[c]
But a wise man holds them back.

12 If a ruler pays attention to lies,
All his servants become wicked.

13 The poor man and the oppressor have this in common:
(J)The Lord gives light to the eyes of both.

14 The king who judges the (K)poor with truth,
His throne will be established forever.

15 The rod and rebuke give (L)wisdom,
But a child left to himself brings shame to his mother.

16 When the wicked are multiplied, transgression increases;
But the righteous will see their (M)fall.

17 Correct your son, and he will give you rest;
Yes, he will give delight to your soul.

18 (N)Where there is no [d]revelation, the people cast off restraint;
But (O)happy is he who keeps the law.

19 A servant will not be corrected by mere words;
For though he understands, he will not respond.

20 Do you see a man hasty in his words?
(P)There is more hope for a fool than for him.

21 He who pampers his servant from childhood
Will have him as a son in the end.

22 (Q)An angry man stirs up strife,
And a furious man abounds in transgression.

23 (R)A man’s pride will bring him low,
But the humble in spirit will retain honor.

24 Whoever is a partner with a thief hates his own life;
(S)He [e]swears to tell the truth, but reveals nothing.

25 (T)The fear of man brings a snare,
But whoever trusts in the Lord shall be [f]safe.

26 (U)Many seek the ruler’s [g]favor,
But justice for man comes from the Lord.

27 An unjust man is an abomination to the righteous,
And he who is upright in the way is an abomination to the wicked.

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 29:2 become great
  2. Proverbs 29:10 Lit. soul or life
  3. Proverbs 29:11 Lit. spirit
  4. Proverbs 29:18 prophetic vision
  5. Proverbs 29:24 Lit. hears the adjuration or oath
  6. Proverbs 29:25 secure, lit. set on high
  7. Proverbs 29:26 Lit. face

Warnings and Instructions

29 A person [a]often (A)rebuked who [b]becomes obstinate
Will (B)suddenly be broken [c]beyond remedy.
When the (C)righteous [d]increase, the people rejoice,
But when a wicked person rules, people groan.
A man who (D)loves wisdom makes his father glad,
But he who (E)involves himself with prostitutes wastes his wealth.
The (F)king gives stability to the land by justice,
But a person who takes bribes ruins it.
A man who (G)flatters his neighbor
Is spreading a net for his steps.
By wrongdoing an evil person is (H)ensnared,
But the righteous (I)sings and rejoices.
The (J)righteous [e]is concerned for the rights of the poor;
The wicked does not understand such [f]concern.
Arrogant people (K)inflame a city,
But (L)wise people turn away anger.
When a wise person has a controversy with a foolish person,
[g]The foolish person either rages or laughs, and there is no rest.
10 People of (M)bloodshed hate the blameless person,
But the upright [h]are concerned for his life.
11 A (N)fool [i]always loses his temper,
But a (O)wise person holds it back.
12 If a (P)ruler pays attention to falsehood,
All his ministers become wicked.
13 The (Q)poor person and the oppressor [j]have this in common:
The Lord gives (R)light to the eyes of both.
14 If a (S)king judges the poor with truth,
His (T)throne will be established forever.
15 The (U)rod and a rebuke give wisdom,
But a child [k]who gets his own way (V)brings shame to his mother.
16 When the wicked [l]increase, wrongdoing increases;
But the (W)righteous will see their downfall.
17 (X)Correct your son, and he will give you comfort;
He will also [m](Y)delight your soul.
18 Where there is (Z)no [n]vision, the people (AA)are unrestrained,
But (AB)happy is one who keeps the Law.
19 A slave will not be instructed by words alone;
For though he understands, there will be no response.
20 Do you see a person who is (AC)hasty with his words?
There is (AD)more hope for a fool than for him.
21 One who pampers his slave from childhood
Will in the end find him to be rebellious.
22 An (AE)angry person stirs up strife,
And a hot-tempered person abounds in wrongdoing.
23 A person’s (AF)pride will bring him low,
But a (AG)humble spirit will obtain honor.
24 One who is a partner with a thief hates his own life;
He (AH)hears the oath but tells nothing.
25 The (AI)fear of man [o]brings a snare,
But one who (AJ)trusts in the Lord will be protected.
26 (AK)Many seek the ruler’s [p]favor,
But (AL)justice for mankind comes from the Lord.
27 An (AM)unjust person is an abomination to the righteous,
And one who is (AN)upright in the way is an abomination to the wicked.

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 29:1 Lit of rebukes who
  2. Proverbs 29:1 Lit hardens his neck
  3. Proverbs 29:1 Lit and there is no remedy
  4. Proverbs 29:2 Or become great
  5. Proverbs 29:7 Lit knows the cause
  6. Proverbs 29:7 Lit knowledge
  7. Proverbs 29:9 Lit He
  8. Proverbs 29:10 Lit seek his soul
  9. Proverbs 29:11 Lit sends forth all his spirit
  10. Proverbs 29:13 Lit meet together
  11. Proverbs 29:15 Lit left to himself
  12. Proverbs 29:16 Or become great
  13. Proverbs 29:17 Lit give delight to
  14. Proverbs 29:18 Or revelation
  15. Proverbs 29:25 Lit gives
  16. Proverbs 29:26 Lit face

Warnings and Instructions

29 He who hardens his neck and refuses instruction after being often reproved (corrected, criticized),
Will suddenly be broken beyond repair.

When the righteous are in authority and become great, the people rejoice;
But when the wicked man rules, the people groan and sigh.

A man who loves [skillful and godly] wisdom makes his father joyful,
But he who associates with prostitutes wastes his wealth.

The king establishes (stabilizes) the land by justice,
But a man who takes bribes overthrows it.

A man who flatters his neighbor [with smooth words intending to do harm]
Is spreading a net for his own feet.

By his wicked plan an evil man is trapped,
But the righteous man sings and rejoices [for his plan brings good things to him].

The righteous man cares for the rights of the poor,
But the wicked man has no interest in such knowledge.(A)

Scoffers set a city afire [by stirring up trouble],
But wise men turn away anger [and restore order with their good judgment].

If a wise man has a controversy with a foolish and arrogant man,
The foolish man [ignores logic and fairness and] only rages or laughs, and there is no peace (rest, agreement).
10 
The bloodthirsty hate the blameless [because of his integrity],
But the upright are concerned for his life.(B)
11 
A [shortsighted] fool always loses his temper and displays his anger,
But a wise man [uses self-control and] holds it back.
12 
If a ruler pays attention to lies [and encourages corruption],
All his officials will become wicked.
13 
The poor man and the oppressor have this in common:
The Lord gives light to the eyes of both.(C)
14 
If a king faithfully and truthfully judges the poor,
His throne shall be established forever.
15 
The rod and reproof (godly instruction) give wisdom,
But a child who gets his own way brings shame to his mother.
16 
When the wicked are in authority, transgression increases,
But the righteous will see the downfall of the wicked.
17 
Correct your son, and he will give you comfort;
Yes, he will delight your soul.
18 
Where there is no vision [no revelation of God and His word], the people are unrestrained;
But happy and blessed is he who keeps the law [of God].(D)
19 
A servant will not be corrected by words alone;
For though he understands, he will not respond [nor pay attention].
20 
Do you see a [conceited] man who speaks quickly [offering his opinions or answering without thinking]?
There is more hope for a [thickheaded] [a]fool than for him.
21 
He who pampers his slave from childhood
Will find him to be a son in the end.
22 
An angry man stirs up strife,
And a hot-tempered and undisciplined man commits many transgressions.
23 
A man’s pride and sense of self-importance will bring him down,
But he who has a humble spirit will obtain honor.(E)
24 
Whoever is partner with a thief hates his own life;
He hears the curse [when swearing an oath to testify], but discloses nothing [and commits perjury by omission].
25 
The fear of man brings a snare,
But whoever trusts in and puts his confidence in the Lord will be exalted and safe.
26 
Many seek the ruler’s favor,
But justice for man comes from the Lord.
27 
An unjust man is repulsive to the righteous,
And he who is upright in the way [of the Lord] is repulsive to the wicked.

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 29:20 See note 1:7.

29 He, that being often reproved hardeneth his neck, shall suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy.

When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice: but when the wicked beareth rule, the people mourn.

Whoso loveth wisdom rejoiceth his father: but he that keepeth company with harlots spendeth his substance.

The king by judgment establisheth the land: but he that receiveth gifts overthroweth it.

A man that flattereth his neighbour spreadeth a net for his feet.

In the transgression of an evil man there is a snare: but the righteous doth sing and rejoice.

The righteous considereth the cause of the poor: but the wicked regardeth not to know it.

Scornful men bring a city into a snare: but wise men turn away wrath.

If a wise man contendeth with a foolish man, whether he rage or laugh, there is no rest.

10 The bloodthirsty hate the upright: but the just seek his soul.

11 A fool uttereth all his mind: but a wise man keepeth it in till afterwards.

12 If a ruler hearken to lies, all his servants are wicked.

13 The poor and the deceitful man meet together: the Lord lighteneth both their eyes.

14 The king that faithfully judgeth the poor, his throne shall be established for ever.

15 The rod and reproof give wisdom: but a child left to himself bringeth his mother to shame.

16 When the wicked are multiplied, transgression increaseth: but the righteous shall see their fall.

17 Correct thy son, and he shall give thee rest; yea, he shall give delight unto thy soul.

18 Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he.

19 A servant will not be corrected by words: for though he understand he will not answer.

20 Seest thou a man that is hasty in his words? there is more hope of a fool than of him.

21 He that delicately bringeth up his servant from a child shall have him become his son at the length.

22 An angry man stirreth up strife, and a furious man aboundeth in transgression.

23 A man's pride shall bring him low: but honour shall uphold the humble in spirit.

24 Whoso is partner with a thief hateth his own soul: he heareth cursing, and bewrayeth it not.

25 The fear of man bringeth a snare: but whoso putteth his trust in the Lord shall be safe.

26 Many seek the ruler's favour; but every man's judgment cometh from the Lord.

27 An unjust man is an abomination to the just: and he that is upright in the way is abomination to the wicked.