Proverbs 29
New American Bible (Revised Edition)
Chapter 29
1 Those stiff-necked in the face of reproof
in an instant will be shattered beyond cure.[a]
2 When the just flourish, the people rejoice;
but when the wicked rule, the people groan.[b](A)
3 Whoever loves wisdom gives joy to his father,
but whoever consorts with harlots squanders his wealth.
4 By justice a king builds up the land;
but one who raises taxes tears it down.[c]
5 Those who speak flattery to their neighbor
cast a net at their feet.[d]
6 The sin of the wicked is a trap,
but the just run along joyfully.(B)
7 The just care for the cause of the poor;
the wicked do not understand such care.[e]
8 Scoffers enflame the city,
but the wise calm the fury.(C)
9 If a wise person disputes with a fool,
there is railing and ridicule but no resolution.
10 The bloodthirsty hate the blameless,
but the upright seek his life.[f]
11 Fools give vent to all their anger;
but the wise, biding their time, control it.(D)
12 If rulers listen to lying words,
their servants all become wicked.
13 The poor and the oppressor meet:(E)
the Lord gives light to the eyes of both.
14 If a king is honestly for the rights of the poor,
his throne stands firm forever.(F)
15 The rod of correction gives wisdom,
but uncontrolled youths disgrace their mothers.(G)
16 When the wicked increase, crime increases;
but the just will behold their downfall.[g]
17 Discipline your children, and they will bring you comfort,
and give delight to your soul.
18 Without a vision the people lose restraint;
but happy is the one who follows instruction.[h]
19 Not by words alone can servants be trained;(H)
for they understand but do not respond.[i]
20 Do you see someone hasty in speech?(I)
There is more hope for a fool!
21 If servants are pampered from childhood
they will turn out to be stubborn.
22 The ill-tempered stir up strife,
and the hotheaded cause many sins.(J)
23 Haughtiness brings humiliation,
but the humble of spirit acquire honor.[j](K)
24 Partners of a thief hate themselves;[k]
they hear the imprecation but do not testify.
25 Fear of others becomes a snare,
but the one who trusts in the Lord is safe.
26 Many curry favor with a ruler,
but it is from the Lord that one receives justice.
27 An abomination to the just, the evildoer;
an abomination to the wicked, one whose way is straight.
Footnotes
- 29:1 The idiom “to stiffen one’s neck” occurs in a context of not heeding a message in Dt 10:16 and 2 Kgs 17:14. To stiffen one’s neck in this sense risks having it broken, as in 1 Sm 4:18.
- 29:2 Popular response to a just or unjust ruler is expressed in sound—shouts of joy or groans of anguish. “Rejoice” can mean to express one’s joy, i.e., joyous shouts.
- 29:4 In Hebrew as in English high and low are metaphors for prosperity and depression. A king who is just “causes the land to stand up,” i.e., to be prosperous, and one who makes taxes high brings a country low.
- 29:5 When one addresses deceptive words to someone’s face, one equivalently throws a net at their feet to snare them.
- 29:7 As in 12:10 (on care for animals), the righteous care for those who are without a voice and often treated like animals. Colon B has a double meaning: the wicked have no such knowledge (care for the poor) and they have no knowledge (wisdom), for they are fools.
- 29:10 An enigmatic saying in that “seek one’s life” is a common idiom for killing. The saying probably plays on the idiom, interpreting “to seek the life of another” not as killing but as caring for another (as in 11:30).
- 29:16 When the wicked grow numerous they sow the seeds of their own destruction, for there is a corresponding increase in offenses calling down divine retribution.
- 29:18 This much-cited proverb has been interpreted in several different ways. “Vision” and “instruction” mean authoritative guidance for the community. People are demoralized without credible leadership, but any individual heeding traditional instruction can still find happiness. As in 15:15 wisdom enables an individual to surmount days of trouble.
- 29:19 The give and take of reproving is not possible for servants or slaves. Ancient custom dictated silent acquiescence for them. There is no open and free dialogue, which is part of ancient discipline.
- 29:23 One’s prideful height brings one down and one’s lowly state brings glory.
- 29:24 Hate themselves: because they not only incur guilt as accomplices but, by their silence, bring down on themselves the curse invoked on the unknown guilty partner. Such a case is envisioned in Lv 5:1. After a theft, a public proclamation was made, enforced by a curse. No one in a town or city could avoid hearing it. The curse hung over the accomplice. By doing nothing, neither directly stealing nor confessing, accomplices put themselves in serious danger.
Proverbs 29
Expanded Bible
29 Whoever is ·stubborn [L stiff-necked] after being corrected many times
will suddenly be ·hurt [broken] beyond ·cure [healing].
2 When ·good [righteous] people ·do well [or multiply; increase], ·everyone is [L the people are] happy,
but when evil people ·rule [dominate], ·everyone groans [L the people groan/moan].
3 Those who love wisdom make their ·parents [L father] happy,
but friends of prostitutes ·waste their money [destroy riches].
4 If a king is ·fair [just], he makes his country ·strong [stable],
but if he ·takes gifts dishonestly [heavily taxes/extorts it], he tears his country down [1 Sam. 12:10–18].
5 Those who give false praise to their ·neighbors [or friends]
are setting a ·trap for them [trap/net for their feet].
6 Evil people are trapped by their own ·sin [offenses],
but ·good [righteous] people can sing and be happy.
7 ·Good [Righteous] people ·care [know] about ·justice for [the rights of] the poor,
but the wicked ·are not concerned [L do not understand].
8 ·People who make fun of wisdom [Mockers] ·cause trouble in [L inflame] a city,
but wise people ·calm anger down [L turn back anger].
9 When a wise person ·takes a foolish person to court [or debates/disputes a fool],
the fool only shouts or laughs, and there is no ·peace [rest].
10 Murderers hate an ·honest [innocent; blameless] person
and ·try to kill [L seek the life of] ·those who do right [the virtuous].
11 Foolish people ·lose their tempers [or let nothing go unexpressed; L let all their spirit out],
but wise people ·control theirs [quiet things down afterward].
12 If a ruler pays attention to lies,
all ·his officers [those who serve him] will become wicked [Ps. 101:6–8].
13 The poor person and the ·cruel person [oppressor] are alike
in that the Lord gave light to the eyes of both of them.
14 If a king judges poor people ·fairly [in truth; reliably],
his ·government [L throne] will ·continue [be established] forever.
15 Correction and ·punishment [L the rod] make children wise,
but those ·left alone [unsupervised] will disgrace their mother.
16 When there are many wicked people, there is much ·sin [offense],
but ·those who do right [the righteous] will see ·them destroyed [their downfall].
17 ·Correct [Instruct; Discipline] your children, and ·you will be proud [they will give you peace of mind];
they will give you ·satisfaction [delight].
18 Where there is no ·word from God [L vision; prophecy], ·people are uncontrolled [T the people perish],
but those who ·obey what they have been taught [L guard the law] are ·happy [blessed].
19 Words alone cannot ·correct [instruct] a servant,
because even if they understand, they won’t respond.
20 Do you see people who speak too ·quickly [hastily]?
There is more hope for a foolish person than for them.
21 If you ·spoil [pamper] your servants when they are young,
they will bring you ·grief [trouble] later on.
22 An angry person ·causes trouble [stirs up conflict];
a person with ·a quick temper [wrath] sins a lot.
23 Pride will ·ruin people [cause people to fall],
but ·those who are humble will be honored [a lowly spirit holds honor/glory tight].
24 ·Partners of [L Those who divide plunder with] thieves ·are their own worst enemies [L hate their lives/themselves].
If they ·have to testify in court [L hear a curse], they ·are afraid to [L do not] say anything.
25 ·Being afraid of [Anxiety about] people ·can get you into trouble [L is a trap],
but if you trust the Lord, you will be ·safe [protected; Ps. 56:11; 1 John 4:18].
26 Many people want ·to speak to [an audience with] a ruler,
but justice comes only from the Lord.
27 ·Good [Righteous] people ·hate [detest] ·those who are dishonest [the unjust],
and the wicked ·hate [detest] ·those who are honest [L the straight path].
Scripture texts, prefaces, introductions, footnotes and cross references used in this work are taken from the New American Bible, revised edition © 2010, 1991, 1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Inc., Washington, DC All Rights Reserved. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.
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