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 neighbour
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 for ever.
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 honour.
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
Cross references
- Proverbs 29:1 : [1 Sam. 2:25]; See ch. 1:24-27
- Proverbs 29:1 : [Isa. 30:14; Jer. 19:11]
- Proverbs 29:1 : ch. 6:15
- Proverbs 29:2 : ch. 11:10; 28:12, 28; [Esth. 8:15]
- Proverbs 29:2 : [Esth. 3:15]
- Proverbs 29:3 : [ch. 10:1; 15:20; 27:11; 28:7]
- Proverbs 29:3 : [ch. 5:9, 10; 6:26]
- Proverbs 29:3 : Luke 15:13, 30
- Proverbs 29:4 : [ver. 14; 2 Chr. 9:8]
- Proverbs 29:5 : ch. 28:23
- Proverbs 29:5 : [Ps. 9:15]
- Proverbs 29:6 : [Eccles. 9:12]
- Proverbs 29:6 : [Ex. 15:1, 21; Ps. 35:27]
- Proverbs 29:7 : Job 29:16; Ps. 41:1
- Proverbs 29:7 : [ch. 28:27]
- Proverbs 29:8 : [ch. 11:11]
- Proverbs 29:9 : [Eccles. 4:6]
- Proverbs 29:10 : [Gen. 4:5, 8; 1 John 3:12]
- Proverbs 29:13 : [ch. 22:2]
- Proverbs 29:13 : Ps. 13:3; See Job 25:3
- Proverbs 29:14 : [Ps. 72:4]
- Proverbs 29:14 : [ver. 4]; See ch. 16:12
- Proverbs 29:15 : See ver. 17
- Proverbs 29:15 : ch. 10:1; 17:25
- Proverbs 29:16 : Ps. 37:34, 36; 58:10; 91:8; 92:11
- Proverbs 29:17 : See ch. 13:24
- Proverbs 29:18 : 1 Sam. 3:1; [2 Chr. 15:3; Ps. 74:9; Amos 8:11, 12]
- Proverbs 29:18 : Ex. 32:25
- Proverbs 29:18 : Luke 11:28; John 13:17; James 1:25
- Proverbs 29:20 : ch. 26:12
- Proverbs 29:22 : See ch. 15:18
- Proverbs 29:23 : ch. 17:19; 2 Sam. 22:28; Matt. 23:12; James 4:6; See ch. 11:2
- Proverbs 29:23 : ch. 15:33; 18:12
- Proverbs 29:24 : See ch. 8:36
- Proverbs 29:24 : See Lev. 5:1
- Proverbs 29:25 : Luke 12:4; [Gen. 12:12, 13; 20:2, 11; 26:7; John 12:42, 43]
- Proverbs 29:26 : ch. 19:6
- Proverbs 29:26 : Isa. 49:4; 1 Cor. 4:4, 5
- Proverbs 29:27 : [2 Cor. 6:14]