29 (A)He who is often reproved, yet stiffens his neck,
    will suddenly be (B)broken (C)beyond healing.
When (D)the righteous increase, the people rejoice,
    but when (E)the wicked rule, the people groan.
He who (F)loves wisdom makes his father glad,
    but (G)a companion of prostitutes (H)squanders his wealth.
By justice a king (I)builds up the land,
    but he who exacts gifts[a] tears it down.
(J)A man who flatters his neighbor
    spreads (K)a net for his feet.
An evil man is (L)ensnared in his transgression,
    but a righteous man (M)sings and rejoices.
A righteous man (N)knows the rights of the poor;
    a wicked man does not (O)understand such knowledge.
(P)Scoffers set a city aflame,
    but the wise turn away wrath.
If a wise man has an argument with a fool,
    the fool only rages and laughs, and there is (Q)no quiet.
10 Bloodthirsty men (R)hate one who is blameless
    and seek the life of the upright.[b]
11 A fool gives full vent to his spirit,
    but a wise man quietly holds it back.
12 If a ruler listens to falsehood,
    all his officials will be wicked.
13 The poor man and the oppressor (S)meet together;
    the Lord (T)gives light to the eyes of both.
14 If a king (U)faithfully judges the poor,
    his throne will (V)be established forever.
15 (W)The rod and reproof give wisdom,
    but a child left to himself (X)brings shame to his mother.
16 When the wicked increase, transgression increases,
    but (Y)the righteous will look upon their downfall.
17 (Z)Discipline your son, and he will give you rest;
    he will give delight to your heart.
18 Where (AA)there is no prophetic vision the people (AB)cast off restraint,[c]
    but blessed is he who (AC)keeps the law.
19 By mere words a servant is not disciplined,
    for though he understands, he will not respond.
20 Do you see a man who is hasty in his words?
    (AD)There is more hope for a fool than for him.
21 Whoever pampers his servant from childhood
    will in the end find him his heir.[d]
22 (AE)A man of wrath stirs up strife,
    and one given to anger causes much transgression.
23 (AF)One's pride will bring him low,
    (AG)but he who is lowly in spirit will obtain honor.
24 The partner of a thief (AH)hates his own life;
    (AI)he hears the curse, but discloses nothing.
25 (AJ)The fear of man lays a snare,
    but whoever trusts in the Lord is safe.
26 Many (AK)seek the face of a ruler,
    but it is from the Lord that a man (AL)gets justice.
27 (AM)An unjust man is an abomination to the righteous,
    but one whose way is straight is an abomination to the wicked.

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 29:4 Or who taxes heavily
  2. Proverbs 29:10 Or but the upright seek his soul
  3. Proverbs 29:18 Or the people are discouraged
  4. Proverbs 29:21 The meaning of the Hebrew word rendered his heir is uncertain

29 Whoever remains stiff-necked(A) after many rebukes
    will suddenly be destroyed(B)—without remedy.(C)

When the righteous thrive, the people rejoice;(D)
    when the wicked rule,(E) the people groan.(F)

A man who loves wisdom brings joy to his father,(G)
    but a companion of prostitutes squanders his wealth.(H)

By justice a king gives a country stability,(I)
    but those who are greedy for[a] bribes tear it down.

Those who flatter their neighbors
    are spreading nets for their feet.(J)

Evildoers are snared by their own sin,(K)
    but the righteous shout for joy and are glad.

The righteous care about justice for the poor,(L)
    but the wicked have no such concern.

Mockers stir up a city,
    but the wise turn away anger.(M)

If a wise person goes to court with a fool,
    the fool rages and scoffs, and there is no peace.

10 The bloodthirsty hate a person of integrity
    and seek to kill the upright.(N)

11 Fools give full vent to their rage,(O)
    but the wise bring calm in the end.(P)

12 If a ruler(Q) listens to lies,
    all his officials become wicked.(R)

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

14 If a king judges the poor with fairness,
    his throne will be established forever.(T)

15 A rod and a reprimand impart wisdom,
    but a child left undisciplined disgraces its mother.(U)

16 When the wicked thrive, so does sin,
    but the righteous will see their downfall.(V)

17 Discipline your children, and they will give you peace;
    they will bring you the delights you desire.(W)

18 Where there is no revelation, people cast off restraint;
    but blessed is the one who heeds wisdom’s instruction.(X)

19 Servants cannot be corrected by mere words;
    though they understand, they will not respond.

20 Do you see someone who speaks in haste?
    There is more hope for a fool than for them.(Y)

21 A servant pampered from youth
    will turn out to be insolent.

22 An angry person stirs up conflict,
    and a hot-tempered person commits many sins.(Z)

23 Pride brings a person low,(AA)
    but the lowly in spirit gain honor.(AB)

24 The accomplices of thieves are their own enemies;
    they are put under oath and dare not testify.(AC)

25 Fear(AD) of man will prove to be a snare,
    but whoever trusts in the Lord(AE) is kept safe.(AF)

26 Many seek an audience with a ruler,(AG)
    but it is from the Lord that one gets justice.(AH)

27 The righteous detest the dishonest;
    the wicked detest the upright.(AI)

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 29:4 Or who give

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.