Proverbs 29

Chapter 29

Warnings and Instructions

¹A man who hardens his neck after ^amuch reproof

Will ^bsuddenly be broken ¹beyond remedy.

²When the ^arighteous ¹increase, the people rejoice,

But when a wicked man rules, people groan.

³A man who ^aloves wisdom makes his father glad,

But he who ^bkeeps company with harlots wastes his wealth.

⁴The ^aking gives stability to the land by justice,

But a man who takes bribes overthrows it.

⁵A man who ^aflatters his neighbor

Is spreading a net for his steps.

⁶By transgression an evil man is ^aensnared,

But the righteous ^bsings and rejoices.

⁷The ^arighteous ¹is concerned for the rights of the poor,

The wicked does not understand such ²concern.

⁸Scorners ^aset a city aflame,

But ^bwise men turn away anger.

⁹When a wise man has a controversy with a foolish man,

¹The foolish man either rages or laughs, and there is no rest.

¹⁰Men of ^abloodshed hate the blameless,

But the upright ¹are concerned for his life.

¹¹A ^afool ¹always loses his temper,

But a ^bwise man holds it back.

¹²If a ^aruler pays attention to falsehood,

All his ministers become wicked.

¹³The ^apoor man and the oppressor ¹have this in common:

The Lord gives ^blight to the eyes of both.

¹⁴If a ^aking judges the poor with truth,

His ^bthrone will be established forever.

¹⁵The ^arod and reproof give wisdom,

But a child ¹who gets his own way ^bbrings shame to his mother.

¹⁶When the wicked ¹increase, transgression increases;

But the ^arighteous will see their fall.

^17aCorrect your son, and he will give you comfort;

He will also ^1bdelight your soul.

¹⁸Where there is ^ano ¹vision, the people ^bare unrestrained,

But ^chappy is he who keeps the law.

¹⁹A slave will not be instructed by words alone;

For though he understands, there will be no response.

²⁰Do you see a man who is ^ahasty in his words?

There is ^bmore hope for a fool than for him.

²¹He who pampers his slave from childhood

Will in the end find him to be a son.

²²An ^aangry man stirs up strife,

And a hot-tempered man abounds in transgression.

²³A man’s ^apride will bring him low,

But a ^bhumble spirit will obtain honor.

²⁴He who is a partner with a thief hates his own life;

He ^ahears the oath but tells nothing.

²⁵The ^afear of man ¹brings a snare,

But he who ^btrusts in the Lord will be exalted.

^26aMany seek the ruler’s ¹favor,

But ^bjustice for man comes from the Lord.

²⁷An ^aunjust man is abominable to the righteous,

And he who is ^bupright in the way is abominable to the wicked.