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
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”
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