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

The Words of King Lemuel

31 The words of King Lemuel. An oracle that his mother taught him:

What are you doing, my son?[a] What are you doing, (A)son of my womb?
    What are you doing, (B)son of my vows?
Do (C)not give your strength to women,
    your ways to those (D)who destroy kings.
(E)It is not for kings, O Lemuel,
    it is not for kings (F)to drink wine,
    or for rulers to take (G)strong drink,
lest they drink and forget what has been decreed
    and (H)pervert the rights of all the afflicted.
Give strong drink to the one who (I)is perishing,
    and wine to (J)those in bitter distress;[b]
(K)let them drink and forget their poverty
    and remember their misery no more.
(L)Open your mouth for the mute,
    for the rights of all who are destitute.[c]
Open your mouth, (M)judge righteously,
    (N)defend the rights of (O)the poor and needy.

The Woman Who Fears the Lord

10 [d] (P)An excellent wife who can find?
    She is far more precious than (Q)jewels.
11 The heart of her husband trusts in her,
    and he will have no lack of gain.
12 She does him good, and not harm,
    all the days of her life.
13 She (R)seeks wool and flax,
    and works with willing hands.
14 She is like the ships of the merchant;
    she brings her food from afar.
15 She (S)rises while it is yet night
    and (T)provides food for her household
    and portions for her maidens.
16 She considers a field and buys it;
    with the fruit of her hands she plants a vineyard.
17 She (U)dresses herself[e] with strength
    and makes her arms strong.
18 She perceives that her merchandise is profitable.
    Her lamp does not go out at night.
19 She puts her hands to the distaff,
    and her hands hold the spindle.
20 She (V)opens her hand to (W)the poor
    and reaches out her hands to (X)the needy.
21 She is not afraid of snow for her household,
    for all her household are clothed in (Y)scarlet.[f]
22 She makes (Z)bed coverings for herself;
    her clothing is (AA)fine linen and (AB)purple.
23 Her husband is known in (AC)the gates
    when he sits among the elders of the land.
24 She makes (AD)linen garments and sells them;
    she delivers sashes to the merchant.
25 (AE)Strength and dignity are her clothing,
    and she laughs at the time to come.
26 She opens her mouth with wisdom,
    and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue.
27 She looks well to the ways of her household
    and does not eat the bread of idleness.
28 Her children rise up and call her blessed;
    her husband also, and he praises her:
29 “Many (AF)women have done (AG)excellently,
    but you surpass them all.”
30 (AH)Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain,
    but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.
31 Give her of the fruit of her hands,
    and let her works praise her in the gates.

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 31:2 Hebrew What, my son?
  2. Proverbs 31:6 Hebrew those bitter in soul
  3. Proverbs 31:8 Hebrew are sons of passing away
  4. Proverbs 31:10 Verses 10–31 are an acrostic poem, each verse beginning with the successive letters of the Hebrew alphabet
  5. Proverbs 31:17 Hebrew She girds her loins
  6. Proverbs 31:21 Or in double thickness

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