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Proverbs 29:15-27
New International Version
Proverbs 29:15-27
New International Version
15 A rod and a reprimand impart wisdom,
but a child left undisciplined disgraces its mother.(A)
16 When the wicked thrive, so does sin,
but the righteous will see their downfall.(B)
17 Discipline your children, and they will give you peace;
they will bring you the delights you desire.(C)
18 Where there is no revelation, people cast off restraint;
but blessed is the one who heeds wisdom’s instruction.(D)
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.(E)
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.(F)
24 The accomplices of thieves are their own enemies;
they are put under oath and dare not testify.(I)
27 The righteous detest the dishonest;
the wicked detest the upright.(O)
Proverbs 29:15-27
Good News Translation
Proverbs 29:15-27
Good News Translation
15 Correction and discipline are good for children. If they have their own way, they will make their mothers ashamed of them.
16 When evil people are in power, crime increases. But the righteous will live to see the downfall of such people.
17 Discipline your children and you can always be proud of them. They will never give you reason to be ashamed.
18 A nation without God's guidance is a nation without order. Happy are those who keep God's law!
19 (A)You cannot correct servants just by talking to them. They may understand you, but they will pay no attention.
20 There is more hope for a stupid fool than for someone who speaks without thinking.
21 If you give your servants everything they want from childhood on, some day they will take over everything you own.[a]
22 People with quick tempers cause a lot of quarreling and trouble.
23 Arrogance will bring your downfall, but if you are humble, you will be respected.
24 A thief's partner is his own worst enemy. He will be punished if he tells the truth in court, and God will curse him if he doesn't.
25 It is dangerous to be concerned with what others think of you, but if you trust the Lord, you are safe.
26 Everybody wants the good will of the ruler, but only from the Lord can you get justice.
27 The righteous hate the wicked, and the wicked hate the righteous.
Read full chapterFootnotes
- Proverbs 29:21 they … own; or you will not be able to control them.
Proverbs 29:15-27
New Century Version
Proverbs 29:15-27
New Century Version
15 Correction and punishment make children wise,
but those left alone will disgrace their mother.
16 When there are many wicked people, there is much sin,
but those who do right will see them destroyed.
17 Correct your children, and you will be proud;
they will give you satisfaction.
18 Where there is no word from God, people are uncontrolled,
but those who obey what they have been taught are happy.
19 Words alone cannot correct a servant,
because even if they understand, they won’t respond.
20 Do you see people who speak too quickly?
There is more hope for a foolish person than for them.
21 If you spoil your servants when they are young,
they will bring you grief later on.
22 An angry person causes trouble;
a person with a quick temper sins a lot.
23 Pride will ruin people,
but those who are humble will be honored.
24 Partners of thieves are their own worst enemies.
If they have to testify in court, they are afraid to say anything.
25 Being afraid of people can get you into trouble,
but if you trust the Lord, you will be safe.
26 Many people want to speak to a ruler,
but justice comes only from the Lord.
27 Good people hate those who are dishonest,
and the wicked hate those who are honest.
Proverbs 29:15-27
The Message
Proverbs 29:15-27
The Message
15 Wise discipline imparts wisdom;
spoiled adolescents embarrass their parents.
16 When degenerates take charge, crime runs wild,
but the righteous will eventually observe their collapse.
17 Discipline your children; you’ll be glad you did—
they’ll turn out delightful to live with.
18 If people can’t see what God is doing,
they stumble all over themselves;
But when they attend to what he reveals,
they are most blessed.
19 It takes more than talk to keep workers in line;
mere words go in one ear and out the other.
20 Observe the people who always talk before they think—
even simpletons are better off than they are.
21 If you let people treat you like a doormat,
you’ll be quite forgotten in the end.
22 Angry people stir up a lot of discord;
the intemperate stir up trouble.
23 Pride lands you flat on your face;
humility prepares you for honors.
24 Befriend an outlaw
and become an enemy to yourself.
When the victims cry out,
you’ll be included in their curses
if you’re a coward to their cause in court.
25 The fear of human opinion disables;
trusting in God protects you from that.
26 Everyone tries to get help from the leader,
but only God will give us justice.
27 Good people can’t stand the sight of deliberate evil;
the wicked can’t stand the sight of well-chosen goodness.
Proverbs 29:15-27
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
Proverbs 29:15-27
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
15 The rod and reproof give wisdom,
but a mother is disgraced by a neglected child.(A)
16 When the wicked are in authority, transgression increases,
but the righteous will look upon their downfall.(B)
17 Discipline your children, and they will give you rest;
they will give delight to your heart.(C)
18 Where there is no prophecy, the people cast off restraint,
but happy are those who keep the law.(D)
19 By mere words slaves are not disciplined,
for though they understand, they will not give heed.
20 Do you see someone who is hasty in speech?
There is more hope for a fool than for anyone like that.(E)
21 A slave pampered from childhood
will come to a bad end.[a]
22 One given to anger stirs up strife,
and the hothead causes much transgression.(F)
23 A person’s pride will bring humiliation,
but one who is lowly in spirit will obtain honor.(G)
24 To be a partner of a thief is to hate one’s own life;
one hears the victim’s curse but discloses nothing.[b](H)
25 The fear of others[c] lays a snare,
but one who trusts in the Lord is secure.(I)
26 Many seek the favor of a ruler,
but it is from the Lord that one gets justice.(J)
27 The unjust are an abomination to the righteous,
but the upright are an abomination to the wicked.
New International Version (NIV) 
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
NIV Reverse Interlinear Bible: English to Hebrew and English to Greek. Copyright © 2019 by Zondervan.
Good News Translation (GNT) 
Good News Translation® (Today’s English Version, Second Edition) © 1992 American Bible Society. All rights reserved. For more information about GNT, visit www.bibles.com and www.gnt.bible.
New Century Version (NCV) 
The Holy Bible, New Century Version®. Copyright © 2005 by Thomas Nelson, Inc.
The Message (MSG)
Copyright © 1993, 2002, 2018 by Eugene H. Peterson
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition (NRSVUE)
New Revised Standard Version, Updated Edition. Copyright © 2021 National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.