Proverbs 29

29A man who is reproved, being stubborn of neck—

suddenly he will be broken, and there will not be healing.

²When the righteous are numerous, the people will rejoice,

but when the wicked are ruling, people will groan.

³A man who loves wisdom will make his parents glad,

but the friend of prostitutes^a will squander his wealth.

⁴By justice a king gives stability to a land,

but a man of bribes will ruin it.

⁵A strong man who flatters his neighbor

is spreading a net for his feet.

⁶In transgression, an evil man is a snare,

but the righteous will sing and rejoice.^b

⁷The righteous knows the case of the poor,

but the wicked does not understand knowledge.

⁸Men of scoffing set a city aflame,

but the wise turn away wrath.

⁹If a wise man goes to court with a foolish man,

then there is rankling and ridicule,^c but there is no relief.

¹⁰Men of blood hate the blameless,

and they seek the life of the upright.^d

¹¹A fool gives all his breath,^e

but the wise holds back in quiet.

¹²A ruler listening to a word of falsehood,

all his officials are wicked.

¹³The poor and a man of oppression have this in common:

Yahweh gives light to the eyes of them both.^f

¹⁴A king who judges with truthfulness to the poor,

his throne will be established forever.

¹⁵As for a rod and reproof, they^g will give wisdom,

but a neglected child is disgraced by his mother.

¹⁶With the increase of the wicked, transgression will increase,

but the righteous will look on his downfall.

¹⁷Discipline your children, and they will give you rest,

and they will give delight to your soul.^h

¹⁸When there is no prophecy, the people cast off restraint,

but as for he who guards instruction, happiness is his.

¹⁹By words, a servant is not disciplined,

for he will understand, but there is no giving heed.

²⁰You see a man who is hasty in his words:

there is more hope for a fool than him.

²¹He who pampers his servant from childhood,

arrogance will be his end.ⁱ

²²A man of anger will stir strife,

and the owner of anger, much transgression.

²³The pride of a person will bring him humiliation,

and the lowly of spirit will obtain honor.

²⁴Being a partner with a thief is hating one’s life;^j

a curse he will hear, but not disclose.

²⁵The fear of a person will lay a snare,

but he who trusts in Yahweh will be secure.

²⁶Many are those who seek the favor^k of a ruler,

but from Yahweh one obtains justice.^l

²⁷A man of injustice is an abomination to the righteous,

but the upright^m is an abomination to the wicked.