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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 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”