29 Whoever remains stiff-necked(A) after many rebukes
    will suddenly be destroyed(B)—without remedy.(C)

When the righteous thrive, the people rejoice;(D)
    when the wicked rule,(E) the people groan.(F)

A man who loves wisdom brings joy to his father,(G)
    but a companion of prostitutes squanders his wealth.(H)

By justice a king gives a country stability,(I)
    but those who are greedy for[a] bribes tear it down.

Those who flatter their neighbors
    are spreading nets for their feet.(J)

Evildoers are snared by their own sin,(K)
    but the righteous shout for joy and are glad.

The righteous care about justice for the poor,(L)
    but the wicked have no such concern.

Mockers stir up a city,
    but the wise turn away anger.(M)

If a wise person goes to court with a fool,
    the fool rages and scoffs, and there is no peace.

10 The bloodthirsty hate a person of integrity
    and seek to kill the upright.(N)

11 Fools give full vent to their rage,(O)
    but the wise bring calm in the end.(P)

12 If a ruler(Q) listens to lies,
    all his officials become wicked.(R)

13 The poor and the oppressor have this in common:
    The Lord gives sight to the eyes of both.(S)

14 If a king judges the poor with fairness,
    his throne will be established forever.(T)

15 A rod and a reprimand impart wisdom,
    but a child left undisciplined disgraces its mother.(U)

16 When the wicked thrive, so does sin,
    but the righteous will see their downfall.(V)

17 Discipline your children, and they will give you peace;
    they will bring you the delights you desire.(W)

18 Where there is no revelation, people cast off restraint;
    but blessed is the one who heeds wisdom’s instruction.(X)

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.(Y)

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.(Z)

23 Pride brings a person low,(AA)
    but the lowly in spirit gain honor.(AB)

24 The accomplices of thieves are their own enemies;
    they are put under oath and dare not testify.(AC)

25 Fear(AD) of man will prove to be a snare,
    but whoever trusts in the Lord(AE) is kept safe.(AF)

26 Many seek an audience with a ruler,(AG)
    but it is from the Lord that one gets justice.(AH)

27 The righteous detest the dishonest;
    the wicked detest the upright.(AI)

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 29:4 Or who give

29 A man who is reproved, being stubborn of neck—
    suddenly he will be broken, and there will not be healing.
When the righteous are numerous, the people will rejoice,
    but when the wicked are ruling, people will groan.
A man who loves wisdom will make his parents glad,
    but the friend of prostitutes[a] will squander his wealth.
By justice a king gives stability to a land,
    but a man of bribes will ruin it.
A strong man who flatters his neighbor
    is spreading a net for his feet.
In transgression, an evil man is a snare,
    but the righteous will sing and rejoice.[b]
The righteous knows the case of the poor,
    but the wicked does not understand knowledge.
Men of scoffing set a city aflame,
    but the wise turn away wrath.
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

  1. Proverbs 29:3 Or “whores”
  2. Proverbs 29:6 Hebrew “he will rejoice”
  3. Proverbs 29:9 Hebrew “there is ridicule”
  4. Proverbs 29:10 Or “soul,” or “inner self”
  5. Proverbs 29:11 Or “spirit”
  6. Proverbs 29:13 Literally “light of the eyes of the two of them”
  7. Proverbs 29:15 Hebrew “it”
  8. Proverbs 29:17 Or “life,” or “inner self”
  9. Proverbs 29:21 Literally “and its/his end will be arrogance”
  10. Proverbs 29:24 Or “soul,” or “inner self”
  11. Proverbs 29:26 Literally “faces”
  12. Proverbs 29:26 Literally “comes justice for a man”
  13. Proverbs 29:27 Literally “upright of way”