Proverbs 29
Complete Jewish Bible
29 He who remains stiffnecked after much rebuke
will be suddenly and incurably broken.
2 When the righteous flourish, the people rejoice;
but when the wicked are in power, the people groan.
3 Whoever loves wisdom brings joy to his father,
but a patron of prostitutes wastes his wealth.
4 A king gives stability to a country by justice,
but one who overtaxes it brings it to ruin.
5 A person who flatters his neighbor
spreads a net for his own steps.
6 In an evil person’s crime is a trap,
but the righteous sing and rejoice.
7 The righteous understands the cause of the poor,
but the wicked is unconcerned.
8 Scoffers can inflame a city,
but the wise can calm the fury.
9 When a wise man argues with a foolish one,
he meets anger and ridicule without relief.
10 Men of blood hate those who are pure
and seek the life of the upright.
11 A fool gives vent to all his feelings,
but the wise, thinking of afterwards, stills them.
12 If a ruler listens to lies,
all his officials will be wicked.
13 The poor and the oppressor have this in common:
Adonai gives light to the eyes of both.
14 If a king steadfastly gives justice to the poor,
his throne will be secure forever.
15 The rod and rebuke give wisdom,
but a child left to himself brings shame on his mother.
16 When the wicked flourish, wrongdoing flourishes;
but the righteous will witness their downfall.
17 Discipline your son, and he will give you rest;
yes, he will be your delight.
18 Without a prophetic vision, the people throw off all restraint;
but he who keeps Torah is happy.
19 A slave can’t be disciplined with words;
he may understand, but he won’t respond.
20 Do you see someone too anxious to speak?
There is more hope for a fool than for him.
21 A slave who is pampered from youth
will in the end be ungrateful.
22 Angry people stir up strife;
hot-tempered people commit many crimes.
23 The proud will be humbled,
but the humble will be honored.
24 The accomplice of a thief hates himself;
he hears himself put under oath but discloses nothing.
25 Fearing human beings is a snare;
but he who trusts in Adonai will be raised high [above danger].
26 Many seek the ruler’s favor,
but it is from Adonai that each gets justice.
27 An unjust person is an abomination to the righteous,
but he who lives uprightly is an abomination to the wicked.
Proverbs 29
King James Version
29 He, that being often reproved hardeneth his neck, shall suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy.
2 When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice: but when the wicked beareth rule, the people mourn.
3 Whoso loveth wisdom rejoiceth his father: but he that keepeth company with harlots spendeth his substance.
4 The king by judgment establisheth the land: but he that receiveth gifts overthroweth it.
5 A man that flattereth his neighbour spreadeth a net for his feet.
6 In the transgression of an evil man there is a snare: but the righteous doth sing and rejoice.
7 The righteous considereth the cause of the poor: but the wicked regardeth not to know it.
8 Scornful men bring a city into a snare: but wise men turn away wrath.
9 If a wise man contendeth with a foolish man, whether he rage or laugh, there is no rest.
10 The bloodthirsty hate the upright: but the just seek his soul.
11 A fool uttereth all his mind: but a wise man keepeth it in till afterwards.
12 If a ruler hearken to lies, all his servants are wicked.
13 The poor and the deceitful man meet together: the Lord lighteneth both their eyes.
14 The king that faithfully judgeth the poor, his throne shall be established for ever.
15 The rod and reproof give wisdom: but a child left to himself bringeth his mother to shame.
16 When the wicked are multiplied, transgression increaseth: but the righteous shall see their fall.
17 Correct thy son, and he shall give thee rest; yea, he shall give delight unto thy soul.
18 Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he.
19 A servant will not be corrected by words: for though he understand he will not answer.
20 Seest thou a man that is hasty in his words? there is more hope of a fool than of him.
21 He that delicately bringeth up his servant from a child shall have him become his son at the length.
22 An angry man stirreth up strife, and a furious man aboundeth in transgression.
23 A man's pride shall bring him low: but honour shall uphold the humble in spirit.
24 Whoso is partner with a thief hateth his own soul: he heareth cursing, and bewrayeth it not.
25 The fear of man bringeth a snare: but whoso putteth his trust in the Lord shall be safe.
26 Many seek the ruler's favour; but every man's judgment cometh from the Lord.
27 An unjust man is an abomination to the just: and he that is upright in the way is abomination to the wicked.
Proverbs 29
New King James Version
Happy Is He Who Keeps the Law
29 He(A) who is often rebuked, and hardens his neck,
Will suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy.
2 When the righteous [a]are in authority, the (B)people rejoice;
But when a wicked man rules, (C)the people groan.
3 Whoever loves wisdom makes his father rejoice,
But a companion of harlots wastes his wealth.
4 The king establishes the land by justice,
But he who receives bribes overthrows it.
5 A man who (D)flatters his neighbor
Spreads a net for his feet.
6 By transgression an evil man is snared,
But the righteous sings and rejoices.
7 The righteous (E)considers the cause of the poor,
But the wicked does not understand such knowledge.
8 Scoffers (F)set a city aflame,
But wise men turn away wrath.
9 If a wise man contends with a foolish man,
(G)Whether the fool rages or laughs, there is no peace.
12 If a ruler pays attention to lies,
All his servants become wicked.
13 The poor man and the oppressor have this in common:
(J)The Lord gives light to the eyes of both.
14 The king who judges the (K)poor with truth,
His throne will be established forever.
15 The rod and rebuke give (L)wisdom,
But a child left to himself brings shame to his mother.
16 When the wicked are multiplied, transgression increases;
But the righteous will see their (M)fall.
17 Correct your son, and he will give you rest;
Yes, he will give delight to your soul.
18 (N)Where there is no [d]revelation, the people cast off restraint;
But (O)happy is he who keeps the law.
19 A servant will not be corrected by mere words;
For though he understands, he will not respond.
20 Do you see a man hasty in his words?
(P)There is more hope for a fool than for him.
21 He who pampers his servant from childhood
Will have him as a son in the end.
22 (Q)An angry man stirs up strife,
And a furious man abounds in transgression.
23 (R)A man’s pride will bring him low,
But the humble in spirit will retain honor.
24 Whoever is a partner with a thief hates his own life;
(S)He [e]swears to tell the truth, but reveals nothing.
27 An unjust man is an abomination to the righteous,
And he who is upright in the way is an abomination to the wicked.
Footnotes
- Proverbs 29:2 become great
- Proverbs 29:10 Lit. soul or life
- Proverbs 29:11 Lit. spirit
- Proverbs 29:18 prophetic vision
- Proverbs 29:24 Lit. hears the adjuration or oath
- Proverbs 29:25 secure, lit. set on high
- Proverbs 29:26 Lit. face
Proverbs 29
English Standard Version
29 (A)He who is often reproved, yet stiffens his neck,
will suddenly be (B)broken (C)beyond healing.
2 When (D)the righteous increase, the people rejoice,
but when (E)the wicked rule, the people groan.
3 He who (F)loves wisdom makes his father glad,
but (G)a companion of prostitutes (H)squanders his wealth.
4 By justice a king (I)builds up the land,
but he who exacts gifts[a] tears it down.
5 (J)A man who flatters his neighbor
spreads (K)a net for his feet.
6 An evil man is (L)ensnared in his transgression,
but a righteous man (M)sings and rejoices.
7 A righteous man (N)knows the rights of the poor;
a wicked man does not (O)understand such knowledge.
8 (P)Scoffers set a city aflame,
but the wise turn away wrath.
9 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
- Proverbs 29:4 Or who taxes heavily
- Proverbs 29:10 Or but the upright seek his soul
- Proverbs 29:18 Or the people are discouraged
- Proverbs 29:21 The meaning of the Hebrew word rendered his heir is uncertain
Copyright © 1998 by David H. Stern. All rights reserved.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. ESV Text Edition: 2025.
