Proverbs 29

29Whoever remains stiff-necked^c after many rebukes

will suddenly be destroyed^d—without remedy.^e

²When the righteous thrive, the people rejoice;^f

when the wicked rule,^g the people groan.^h

³A man who loves wisdom brings joy to his father,ⁱ

but a companion of prostitutes squanders his wealth.^j

⁴By justice a king gives a country stability,^k

but those who are greedy for^a bribes tear it down.

⁵Those who flatter their neighbors

are spreading nets for their feet.^l

⁶Evildoers are snared by their own sin,^m

but the righteous shout for joy and are glad.

⁷The righteous care about justice for the poor,ⁿ

but the wicked have no such concern.

⁸Mockers stir up a city,

but the wise turn away anger.^o

⁹If a wise person goes to court with a fool,

the fool rages and scoffs, and there is no peace.

¹⁰The bloodthirsty hate a person of integrity

and seek to kill the upright.^p

¹¹Fools give full vent to their rage,^q

but the wise bring calm in the end.^r

¹²If a ruler^s listens to lies,

all his officials become wicked.^t

¹³The poor and the oppressor have this in common:

The Lord gives sight to the eyes of both.^u

¹⁴If a king judges the poor with fairness,

his throne will be established forever.^v

¹⁵A rod and a reprimand impart wisdom,

but a child left undisciplined disgraces its mother.^w

¹⁶When the wicked thrive, so does sin,

but the righteous will see their downfall.^x

¹⁷Discipline your children, and they will give you peace;

they will bring you the delights you desire.^y

¹⁸Where there is no revelation, people cast off restraint;

but blessed is the one who heeds wisdom’s instruction.^z

¹⁹Servants cannot be corrected by mere words;

though they understand, they will not respond.

²⁰Do you see someone who speaks in haste?

There is more hope for a fool than for them.^a

²¹A servant pampered from youth

will turn out to be insolent.

²²An angry person stirs up conflict,

and a hot-tempered person commits many sins.^b

²³Pride brings a person low,^c

but the lowly in spirit gain honor.^d

²⁴The accomplices of thieves are their own enemies;

they are put under oath and dare not testify.^e

²⁵Fear^f of man will prove to be a snare,

but whoever trusts in the Lord^g is kept safe.^h

²⁶Many seek an audience with a ruler,ⁱ

but it is from the Lord that one gets justice.^j

²⁷The righteous detest the dishonest;

the wicked detest the upright.^k