CHAPTER 29

                ¹A man often rebuked who is stiff-necked,

                    will be suddenly broken beyond healing.

                ²When the righteous are many, a people rejoices,

                    but when the wicked man rules, a people groans.

                ³A man who loves wisdom will gladden his father,

                    but a chaser of whores will destroy wealth.

                ⁴A king makes a land stand firm through justice,

                    but a deceitful man destroys it.

                ⁵A man who flatters his fellow

                    spreads a net at his feet.

                ⁶In an evil man’s crime is a snare,

                    but the righteous is glad and rejoices.

                ⁷The righteous man knows the cause of the poor.

                    The wicked man does not grasp knowledge.

                ⁸Scoffing men fan the flames of a city,

                    but the wise will turn back wrath.

                ⁹When a wise man contends with a doltish man,

                    the dolt rages and mocks, with no calm.

                ¹⁰Bloody men hate the innocent,

                    but the upright look out for his life.

                ¹¹The fool gives vent to his whole spirit,

                    but the wise man quells it.

                ¹²A ruler heeding a lying word—

                    all his servants are wicked.

                ¹³A pauper and a schemer meet—

                    the LORD gives light to the eyes of both.

                ¹⁴A king who judges the poor with honesty,

                    his throne will stand firm for all time.

                ¹⁵Rod and rebuke impart wisdom,

                    but a lad run loose shames his mother.

                ¹⁶When the wicked increase, crime increases,

                    but the righteous will witness their downfall.

                ¹⁷Reprove your son and he will give you ease,

                    and offer delicacies for your palate.

                ¹⁸Without vision a people turns wild,

                    but happy is he who follows the teaching.

                ¹⁹Through words a slave will not accept reproof,

                    though he understand, there will be no answer.

                ²⁰Have you seen a man hasty in his words?

                    There is more hope for the dolt than for him.

                ²¹Who pampers his slave from youth,

                    in the end there will be dismay.

                ²²An angry man stirs up strife,

                    and a hothead abounds in crime.

                ²³A man’s pride will bring him low,

                    but the lowly of spirit will hold on to honor.

                ²⁴Who shares with a thief hates himself,

                    he will hear the curse and will not tell.

                ²⁵A man’s fear becomes a snare,

                    but he who trusts in the LORD will be safe.

                ²⁶Many seek a ruler’s presence,

                    but a man’s judgment comes from the LORD.

                ²⁷A wrongdoer is the loathing of the righteous,

                    and the wicked’s loathing, the man of straight ways.