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29 Whoever stubbornly refuses to accept criticism
    will suddenly be destroyed beyond recovery.

When the godly are in authority, the people rejoice.
    But when the wicked are in power, they groan.

The man who loves wisdom brings joy to his father,
    but if he hangs around with prostitutes, his wealth is wasted.

A just king gives stability to his nation,
    but one who demands bribes destroys it.

To flatter friends
    is to lay a trap for their feet.

Evil people are trapped by sin,
    but the righteous escape, shouting for joy.

The godly care about the rights of the poor;
    the wicked don’t care at all.

Mockers can get a whole town agitated,
    but the wise will calm anger.

If a wise person takes a fool to court,
    there will be ranting and ridicule but no satisfaction.

10 The bloodthirsty hate blameless people,
    but the upright seek to help them.[a]

11 Fools vent their anger,
    but the wise quietly hold it back.

12 If a ruler pays attention to liars,
    all his advisers will be wicked.

13 The poor and the oppressor have this in common—
    the Lord gives sight to the eyes of both.

14 If a king judges the poor fairly,
    his throne will last forever.

15 To discipline a child produces wisdom,
    but a mother is disgraced by an undisciplined child.

16 When the wicked are in authority, sin flourishes,
    but the godly will live to see their downfall.

17 Discipline your children, and they will give you peace of mind
    and will make your heart glad.

18 When people do not accept divine guidance, they run wild.
    But whoever obeys the law is joyful.

19 Words alone will not discipline a servant;
    the words may be understood, but they are not heeded.

20 There is more hope for a fool
    than for someone who speaks without thinking.

21 A servant pampered from childhood
    will become a rebel.

22 An angry person starts fights;
    a hot-tempered person commits all kinds of sin.

23 Pride ends in humiliation,
    while humility brings honor.

24 If you assist a thief, you only hurt yourself.
    You are sworn to tell the truth, but you dare not testify.

25 Fearing people is a dangerous trap,
    but trusting the Lord means safety.

26 Many seek the ruler’s favor,
    but justice comes from the Lord.

27 The righteous despise the unjust;
    the wicked despise the godly.

Footnotes

  1. 29:10 Or The bloodthirsty hate blameless people, / and they seek to kill the upright; Hebrew reads The bloodthirsty hate blameless people; / as for the upright, they seek their life.

29 A man that hardeneth his neck when he is rebuked, shall suddenly be destroyed, and cannot be cured.

(A)When the righteous [a]are in authority, the people rejoice: but when the wicked beareth rule, the people sigh.

A man that loveth wisdom rejoiceth his father: but (B)he that feedeth harlots wasteth his substance.

A king by judgment maintaineth the country: but a man receiving gifts, destroyeth it.

A man that flattereth his neighbor, [b]spreadeth a net for his steps.

In the transgression of an evil man is his [c]snare: but the righteous doth sing and rejoice.

The righteous knoweth the cause of the poor: but the wicked regardeth not knowledge.

Scornful men bring a city into a snare: but wise men turn away wrath.

If a wise man contend with [d]a foolish man, whether he be angry or laugh, there is no rest.

10 Bloody men hate him that is upright: but the just have care of his soul.

11 A fool poureth out all his mind: but a wise man keepeth it in till afterward.

12 Of a prince that hearkeneth to lies, all his servants are wicked.

13 (C)The poor and the usurer meet together, and the Lord lightened both their eyes.

14 A (D)King that judgeth the poor in truth, his throne shall be established forever.

15 The rod and correction give wisdom, but a child set at liberty, maketh his mother ashamed.

16 When the wicked are increased, transgression increaseth: but the righteous shall see their fall.

17 Correct thy son, and he will give thee rest, and will give pleasures to thy soul.

18 [e]Where there is no vision, the people decay: but he that keepeth the law is blessed.

19 A [f]servant will not be chastised with words: though he understand, yet he will not [g]answer.

20 Seest thou a man hasty in his matters? there is more hope of a fool, than of him.

21 He that delicately bringeth up his servant from youth, at length he will be even as his son.

22 (E)An angry man stirreth up strife, and a furious man aboundeth in transgression.

23 (F)The pride of a man shall bring him low: but the humble in spirit shall enjoy glory.

24 He that is partner with a thief, hateth his own soul: he heareth cursing and declareth it not.

25 The fear of man bringeth a [h]snare: but he that trusteth in the Lord shall be exalted.

26 Many do seek the face of the ruler: but every man’s [i]judgment cometh from the Lord.

27 A wicked man is abomination to the just, and he that is upright in his way, is abomination to the wicked.

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 29:2 Or, are increased.
  2. Proverbs 29:5 He that giveth ear to the flatterer, is in danger as the bird is before the fowler.
  3. Proverbs 29:6 He is ever ready to fall into the snare that he layeth for others.
  4. Proverbs 29:9 He can hear no admonition in what sort soever it is spoken.
  5. Proverbs 29:18 Where there are not faithful ministers of the word of God.
  6. Proverbs 29:19 He that is of a servile and rebellious nature.
  7. Proverbs 29:19 Or, regard.
  8. Proverbs 29:25 He that feareth man more than God, falleth into a snare and is destroyed.
  9. Proverbs 29:26 He needeth not to flatter the ruler: for what God hath appointed, that shall come to him.

29 (A)He who is often reproved, yet stiffens his neck,
    will suddenly be (B)broken (C)beyond healing.
When (D)the righteous increase, the people rejoice,
    but when (E)the wicked rule, the people groan.
He who (F)loves wisdom makes his father glad,
    but (G)a companion of prostitutes (H)squanders his wealth.
By justice a king (I)builds up the land,
    but he who exacts gifts[a] tears it down.
(J)A man who flatters his neighbor
    spreads (K)a net for his feet.
An evil man is (L)ensnared in his transgression,
    but a righteous man (M)sings and rejoices.
A righteous man (N)knows the rights of the poor;
    a wicked man does not (O)understand such knowledge.
(P)Scoffers set a city aflame,
    but the wise turn away wrath.
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

  1. Proverbs 29:4 Or who taxes heavily
  2. Proverbs 29:10 Or but the upright seek his soul
  3. Proverbs 29:18 Or the people are discouraged
  4. Proverbs 29:21 The meaning of the Hebrew word rendered his heir is uncertain

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