Proverbs 29
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
29 One who is often reproved, yet remains stubborn,
will suddenly be broken beyond healing.(A)
2 When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice,
but when the wicked rule, the people groan.(B)
3 A child who loves wisdom makes a parent glad,
but a companion of prostitutes destroys wealth.(C)
4 By justice a king gives stability to the land,
but one who makes heavy exactions ruins it.
5 Whoever flatters a neighbor
is spreading a net for the neighbor’s feet.
6 In the transgression of the evil there is a snare,
but the righteous sing and rejoice.
7 The righteous know the rights of the poor;
the wicked have no such understanding.(D)
8 Scoffers set a city aflame,
but the wise turn away wrath.(E)
9 If the wise go to law with fools,
there is ranting and ridicule without relief.
10 The bloodthirsty hate the blameless,
and they seek the life of the upright.(F)
11 A fool gives full vent to anger,
but the wise quietly holds it back.(G)
12 If a ruler listens to falsehood,
all his officials will be wicked.
13 The poor and the oppressor have this in common:
the Lord gives light to the eyes of both.(H)
14 If a king judges the poor with equity,
his throne will be established forever.(I)
15 The rod and reproof give wisdom,
but a mother is disgraced by a neglected child.(J)
16 When the wicked are in authority, transgression increases,
but the righteous will look upon their downfall.(K)
17 Discipline your children, and they will give you rest;
they will give delight to your heart.(L)
18 Where there is no prophecy, the people cast off restraint,
but happy are those who keep the law.(M)
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.(N)
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.(O)
23 A person’s pride will bring humiliation,
but one who is lowly in spirit will obtain honor.(P)
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](Q)
25 The fear of others[c] lays a snare,
but one who trusts in the Lord is secure.(R)
26 Many seek the favor of a ruler,
but it is from the Lord that one gets justice.(S)
27 The unjust are an abomination to the righteous,
but the upright are an abomination to the wicked.
Proverbs 29
Evangelical Heritage Version
29 A person who remains stiff-necked[a] after many rebukes
will be broken suddenly, and there will be no cure.
2 When the righteous increase, the people rejoice,
but when a wicked man rules, the people groan.
3 A man who loves wisdom brings joy to his father,
but one who visits prostitutes destroys his wealth.
4 A king brings stability to a land by justice,
but one who accepts bribes tears it down.
5 A man who flatters his neighbor
is spreading a net for his steps.[b]
6 An evil man sets a trap with his sin,
but a righteous person sings and rejoices.
7 A righteous person acknowledges the rights of the poor,
but a wicked person does not understand such knowledge.
8 Scoffers stir up a city,
but wise people turn away anger.
9 When a wise person seeks justice from a stubborn fool,
the fool rants and laughs, and there is no peace.
10 Bloodthirsty people hate anyone with integrity,
but upright people seek to save his life.[c]
11 A fool vents all his emotions,
but a wise person calmly restrains them.
12 If a ruler listens to lies,
all his officials become wicked.
13 A poor person and an oppressor have this in common:
The Lord gives light to the eyes of both.
14 If a king judges poor people with truth,
his throne will be established permanently.
15 A rod used for discipline gives wisdom,
but an undisciplined child disgraces his mother.
16 When the wicked increase, sin increases,
but the righteous will see their downfall.
17 Discipline your son, and he will give you rest.
He will give delight to your soul.
18 Without prophetic vision, a people is unrestrained,
but a people which follows the law is blessed.
19 A servant cannot be disciplined with words.
Although he understands, he shows no response.
20 Have you seen a person who is hasty with his words?
There is more hope for a fool than for him.
21 If someone pampers his servant from the time he is young,
later on he will have grief.
22 A hothead stirs up a fight,
and a quick-tempered person commits many sins.
23 A person’s arrogance will humble him,
but a humble spirit will attain honor.
24 The partner of a thief hates his own life.
He hears the oath,[d] but he does not reveal anything.
25 Being afraid of a man sets a trap,
but a person who trusts in the Lord will be secure.
26 Many people seek a ruler’s favor,
but a person gets justice from the Lord.
27 An unjust person is disgusting to righteous people,
but one whose way is upright is disgusting to the wicked.
Footnotes
- Proverbs 29:1 Or stubborn
- Proverbs 29:5 Or his own steps
- Proverbs 29:10 Or and they seek the life of the upright
- Proverbs 29:24 Or curse. He cannot testify for fear of reprisal or self-incrimination.
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.
The Holy Bible, Evangelical Heritage Version®, EHV®, © 2019 Wartburg Project, Inc. All rights reserved.