Proverbs Chapter 29

¹ If you stiffen your neck after repeated correction,         

you’ll suddenly be broken beyond recovery.

                  ²When good people rule, people are happy;

            when corrupt leaders take over, the citizens groan.

³ A son that loves wisdom makes his father happy,

but one that visits prostitutes squanders his wealth.

                  ⁴A good king creates a stable country,

            but one that accepts bribes ruins it.

⁵ Flattering your friends

spreads a net for them to step in.

                  ⁶Bad people’s sins become their downfall,

            but the righteous can sing and celebrate.                   

Prov 29:1-6

⁷ The godly care about the rights of the poor;

sinful people don’t care about such things.

                  ⁸Scoffers can set a city in an uproar,

            but the wise defuse anger.

⁹ When the wise argue with the foolish,

the foolish get mad or mock; there’s no quiet response.

                  ¹⁰Bloodthirsty people hate anybody that’s blameless,

            but the godly are concerned about other people’s lives.

¹¹ Fools lose their temper;

the wise keep it in check.

                  ¹²If a ruler is willing to listen to lies,

            his advisors become corrupt.

Prov 29:7-12

¹³ The poor and the oppressor have this in common:

the LORD makes both of them able to see.

                  ¹⁴If a king judges the poor fairly,

            his throne will be permanently secure.

¹⁵ Discipline gives children wisdom,

but kids that get their way are an embarrassment to their mother.

                  ¹⁶When corrupt leaders get control, sin multiplies;

            but the godly will see them fall.

¹⁷ Correct your children,

and they’ll bring you comfort and delight.

                  ¹⁸Where there’s no revelation, people cast off restraint;

            but those who keep the Law stay happy.                   

Prov 29:13-18

¹⁹ Words alone won’t correct a slave;

though he understands, he won’t respond.

                  ²⁰There’s more hope for a fool

            than for someone that’s rash with words

²¹ A slave pampered from childhood

will turn out to be a rebel.

                  ²²Angry people stir up conflict;

            hotheads commit a lot of sins.

²³ Pride brings humiliation;

humility lifts up to places of honor.

                  ²⁴Helping a thief puts you in jeopardy:

            you’ve taken an oath against perjury,

                  but you can’t tell the truth in court.                     

Prov 29:19-24

²⁵ Fearing other people entraps you;

trusting the LORD makes you secure.

                  ²⁶People look to rulers for approval,

            but justice comes from the LORD.

²⁷ The wicked despise the righteous,

and the righteous despise them back.

Prov 29:25-27