Proverbs 29
English Standard Version
29 (A)He who is often reproved, yet stiffens his neck,
will suddenly be (B)broken (C)beyond healing.
2 When (D)the righteous increase, the people rejoice,
but when (E)the wicked rule, the people groan.
3 He who (F)loves wisdom makes his father glad,
but (G)a companion of prostitutes (H)squanders his wealth.
4 By justice a king (I)builds up the land,
but he who exacts gifts[a] tears it down.
5 (J)A man who flatters his neighbor
spreads (K)a net for his feet.
6 An evil man is (L)ensnared in his transgression,
but a righteous man (M)sings and rejoices.
7 A righteous man (N)knows the rights of the poor;
a wicked man does not (O)understand such knowledge.
8 (P)Scoffers set a city aflame,
but the wise turn away wrath.
9 If a wise man has an argument with a fool,
the fool only rages and laughs, and there is (Q)no quiet.
10 Bloodthirsty men (R)hate one who is blameless
and seek the life of the upright.[b]
11 A fool gives full vent to his spirit,
but a wise man quietly holds it back.
12 If a ruler listens to falsehood,
all his officials will be wicked.
13 The poor man and the oppressor (S)meet together;
the Lord (T)gives light to the eyes of both.
14 If a king (U)faithfully judges the poor,
his throne will (V)be established forever.
15 (W)The rod and reproof give wisdom,
but a child left to himself (X)brings shame to his mother.
16 When the wicked increase, transgression increases,
but (Y)the righteous will look upon their downfall.
17 (Z)Discipline your son, and he will give you rest;
he will give delight to your heart.
18 Where (AA)there is no prophetic vision the people (AB)cast off restraint,[c]
but blessed is he who (AC)keeps the law.
19 By mere words a servant is not disciplined,
for though he understands, he will not respond.
20 Do you see a man who is hasty in his words?
(AD)There is more hope for a fool than for him.
21 Whoever pampers his servant from childhood
will in the end find him his heir.[d]
22 (AE)A man of wrath stirs up strife,
and one given to anger causes much transgression.
23 (AF)One's pride will bring him low,
(AG)but he who is lowly in spirit will obtain honor.
24 The partner of a thief (AH)hates his own life;
(AI)he hears the curse, but discloses nothing.
25 (AJ)The fear of man lays a snare,
but whoever trusts in the Lord is safe.
26 Many (AK)seek the face of a ruler,
but it is from the Lord that a man (AL)gets justice.
27 (AM)An unjust man is an abomination to the righteous,
but one whose way is straight is an abomination to the wicked.
Footnotes
- Proverbs 29:4 Or who taxes heavily
- Proverbs 29:10 Or but the upright seek his soul
- Proverbs 29:18 Or the people are discouraged
- Proverbs 29:21 The meaning of the Hebrew word rendered his heir is uncertain
Proverbs 29
Lexham English Bible
29 A man who is reproved, being stubborn of neck—
suddenly he will be broken, and there will not be healing.
2 When the righteous are numerous, the people will rejoice,
but when the wicked are ruling, people will groan.
3 A man who loves wisdom will make his parents glad,
but the friend of prostitutes[a] will squander his wealth.
4 By justice a king gives stability to a land,
but a man of bribes will ruin it.
5 A strong man who flatters his neighbor
is spreading a net for his feet.
6 In transgression, an evil man is a snare,
but the righteous will sing and rejoice.[b]
7 The righteous knows the case of the poor,
but the wicked does not understand knowledge.
8 Men of scoffing set a city aflame,
but the wise turn away wrath.
9 If a wise man goes to court with a foolish man,
then there is rankling and ridicule,[c] but there is no relief.
10 Men of blood hate the blameless,
and they seek the life of the upright.[d]
11 A fool gives all his breath,[e]
but the wise holds back in quiet.
12 A ruler listening to a word of falsehood,
all his officials are wicked.
13 The poor and a man of oppression have this in common:
Yahweh gives light to the eyes of them both.[f]
14 A king who judges with truthfulness to the poor,
his throne will be established forever.
15 As for a rod and reproof, they[g] will give wisdom,
but a neglected child is disgraced by his mother.
16 With the increase of the wicked, transgression will increase,
but the righteous will look on his downfall.
17 Discipline your children, and they will give you rest,
and they will give delight to your soul.[h]
18 When there is no prophecy, the people cast off restraint,
but as for he who guards instruction, happiness is his.
19 By words, a servant is not disciplined,
for he will understand, but there is no giving heed.
20 You see a man who is hasty in his words:
there is more hope for a fool than him.
21 He who pampers his servant from childhood,
arrogance will be his end.[i]
22 A man of anger will stir strife,
and the owner of anger, much transgression.
23 The pride of a person will bring him humiliation,
and the lowly of spirit will obtain honor.
24 Being a partner with a thief is hating one’s life;[j]
a curse he will hear, but not disclose.
25 The fear of a person will lay a snare,
but he who trusts in Yahweh will be secure.
26 Many are those who seek the favor[k] of a ruler,
but from Yahweh one obtains justice.[l]
27 A man of injustice is an abomination to the righteous,
but the upright[m] is an abomination to the wicked.
Footnotes
- Proverbs 29:3 Or “whores”
- Proverbs 29:6 Hebrew “he will rejoice”
- Proverbs 29:9 Hebrew “there is ridicule”
- Proverbs 29:10 Or “soul,” or “inner self”
- Proverbs 29:11 Or “spirit”
- Proverbs 29:13 Literally “light of the eyes of the two of them”
- Proverbs 29:15 Hebrew “it”
- Proverbs 29:17 Or “life,” or “inner self”
- Proverbs 29:21 Literally “and its/his end will be arrogance”
- Proverbs 29:24 Or “soul,” or “inner self”
- Proverbs 29:26 Literally “faces”
- Proverbs 29:26 Literally “comes justice for a man”
- Proverbs 29:27 Literally “upright of way”
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
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