Proverbs 29:2–12

²When those who do right grow stronger, the people are glad.

But when those who do wrong become rulers, the people groan.

³A man who loves wisdom makes his father glad.

But a man who spends time with prostitutes wastes his father’s wealth.

⁴By doing what is fair, a king makes a country secure.

But the one who wants to be paid off tears it down.

⁵A man who only pretends to praise his neighbor

is spreading a net to catch him by the feet.

⁶A sinful man is trapped by his own sin.

But a godly person can sing and be glad.

⁷Those who do what is right want to treat poor people fairly.

But those who do what is wrong don’t care about the poor.

⁸Those who make fun of others stir up a city.

But wise people turn anger away.

⁹Suppose a wise man goes to court with a foolish person.

Then the foolish person gets mad and pokes fun. And there is no peace.

¹⁰Murderers hate honest people.

They try to kill those who do what is right.

¹¹A foolish person lets his anger run wild.

But a wise person keeps himself under control.

¹²If rulers listen to lies,

all their officials become evil.