Proverbs 29
New Catholic Bible
Chapter 29
1 One who remains stubborn despite frequent reproof
will suddenly be crushed beyond hope of repair.
2 When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice,
but they groan when the wicked ascend to power.
3 A man who loves wisdom makes his father glad,
but a patron of prostitutes squanders his wealth.
4 By ruling justly a king gives stability to his country,
but one who takes bribes causes its downfall.
5 Anyone who flatters his neighbor
is spreading a net to trip him up.
6 An evildoer is ensnared by his own sin,
but an upright man goes forward happily.
7 A righteous man has concern for the condition of the poor,
but an evildoer shows no interest in this matter.
8 Scoffers can set a city aflame,[a]
but wise men turn away wrath.
9 If a wise man argues with a fool,
he will get nowhere whether he rages or laughs.
10 Bloodthirsty men hate one who is blameless,[b]
but the upright show concern for him.
11 A fool gives free rein to his anger,
but a wise man bides his time and calms it.
12 If a ruler listens to the testimony of liars,
all of his officials will adopt evil ways.
13 A poor man and an oppressor have this in common:
the Lord gives light to the eyes of both.[c]
14 If a king zealously defends the rights of the poor,
his throne will stand firm forever.
15 The rod of correction[d] bestows wisdom,
but an unreprimanded youth will bring shame on his mother.
16 When the wicked are in power, sins increase,
but the righteous will witness their downfall.
17 If you correct your son,[e] he will give you peace of mind
and bring delight to your soul.
18 Without prophecy the people become uncontrollable,
but blessed are those who keep the law.[f]
19 Mere words do not suffice to control a servant;
even though he understands, he will not obey you.
20 Do you see someone who is too eager to speak?
There is more hope for a fool than for him.
21 If you pamper a slave from his childhood,
in the end he will prove ungrateful.[g]
22 A bad-tempered man provokes quarrels,
and a hothead commits a host of offenses.
23 A man’s pride will bring him low,
but lowly souls will rise to honor.
24 The accomplice of a thief is his own enemy,
for he hears the curse[h] but refuses to answer.
25 The fear of others will prove to be a snare,
but whoever trusts in the Lord is secure.
26 Many seek the favor of a ruler,
but it is the Lord who administers justice.
27 A sinful man is abhorrent to the upright,
and one who leads a holy life is hated by the wicked.
Footnotes
- Proverbs 29:8 Scoffers can set a city aflame: see note on Prov 1:22; see also Prov 6:14; 11:11; 26:21.
- Proverbs 29:10 Bloodthirsty men hate one who is blameless: and they hatch plots against him (see Prov 1:11-16).
- Proverbs 29:13 The Lord gives light to the eyes of both: i.e., gives life, just as he makes the sun to shine on the just and the unjust (see Mt 5:45).
- Proverbs 29:15 Rod of correction: see note on Prov 13:24.
- Proverbs 29:17 Correct your son: teach him and train him (see Prov 13:24; 22:6).
- Proverbs 29:18 The Prophet was not only God’s spokesperson but also the people’s teacher and guide, leading them to keep the divine law. Blessed are those who keep the law: see note on Prov 31:28.
- Proverbs 29:21 Vulgate reading; the meaning of the Hebrew is uncertain.
- Proverbs 29:24 The meaning of the Hebrew is uncertain. Curse: i.e., the curse leveled at an unidentified criminal or at a witness who fails to come forward (see Lev 5:1; Jdg 17:2).
Proverbs 29
Names of God Bible
29 A person who will not bend after many warnings
will suddenly be broken beyond repair.
2 When righteous people increase, the people of God rejoice,
but when a wicked person rules, everybody groans.
3 A person who loves wisdom makes his father happy,
but one who pays prostitutes wastes his wealth.
4 By means of justice, a king builds up a country,
but a person who confiscates religious contributions tears it down.
5 A person who flatters his neighbor
is spreading a net for him to step into.
6 To an evil person sin is bait in a trap,
but a righteous person runs away from it[a] and is glad.
7 A righteous person knows the just cause of the poor.
A wicked person does not understand this.
8 Mockers create an uproar in a city,
but wise people turn away anger.
9 When a wise person goes to court with a stubborn fool,
he may rant and rave,
but there is no peace and quiet.
10 Bloodthirsty people hate an innocent person,
but decent people seek to protect his life.
11 A fool expresses all his emotions,
but a wise person controls them.
12 If a ruler pays attention to lies,
all his servants become wicked.
13 A poor person and an oppressor have this in common:
Yahweh gives both of them sight.
14 When a king judges the poor with honesty,
his throne will always be secure.
15 A spanking and a warning produce wisdom,
but an undisciplined child disgraces his mother.
16 When wicked people increase, crime increases,
but righteous people will witness their downfall.
17 Correct your son, and he will give you peace of mind.
He will bring delight to your soul.
18 Without prophetic vision people run wild,
but blessed are those who follow God’s teachings.
19 A slave cannot be disciplined with words.
He will not respond, though he may understand.
20 Have you met a person who is quick to answer?
There is more hope for a fool than for him.
21 Pamper a slave from childhood,
and later he will be ungrateful.[b]
22 An angry person stirs up a fight,
and a hothead does much wrong.
23 A person’s pride will humiliate him,
but a humble spirit gains honor.
24 Whoever is a thief’s partner hates his own life.
He will not testify under oath.
25 A person’s fear sets a trap for him,
but one who trusts Yahweh is safe.
26 Many seek an audience with a ruler,
but justice for humanity comes from Yahweh.
27 An unjust person is disgusting to righteous people.
A decent person is disgusting to wicked people.
Footnotes
- Proverbs 29:6 Hebrew meaning of “runs away from it” uncertain.
- Proverbs 29:21 Hebrew meaning uncertain.
The Names of God Bible (without notes) © 2011 by Baker Publishing Group.