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29 A person who will not bend after many warnings
will suddenly be broken beyond repair.
When righteous people increase, the people ⌞of God⌟ rejoice,
but when a wicked person rules, everybody groans.
A person who loves wisdom makes his father happy,
but one who pays prostitutes wastes his wealth.
By means of justice, a king builds up a country,
but a person who confiscates religious contributions tears it down.

A person who flatters his neighbor
is spreading a net for him to step into.
To an evil person sin is bait in a trap,
but a righteous person runs away from it and is glad.
A righteous person knows the just cause of the poor.
A wicked person does not understand this.
Mockers create an uproar in a city,
but wise people turn away anger.

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:
The Lord 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.

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 the Lord is safe.
26 Many seek an audience with a ruler,
but justice for humanity comes from the Lord.
27 An unjust person is disgusting to righteous people.
A decent person is disgusting to wicked people.

29 Whoever remains stiff-necked(A) after many rebukes
    will suddenly be destroyed(B)—without remedy.(C)

When the righteous thrive, the people rejoice;(D)
    when the wicked rule,(E) the people groan.(F)

A man who loves wisdom brings joy to his father,(G)
    but a companion of prostitutes squanders his wealth.(H)

By justice a king gives a country stability,(I)
    but those who are greedy for[a] bribes tear it down.

Those who flatter their neighbors
    are spreading nets for their feet.(J)

Evildoers are snared by their own sin,(K)
    but the righteous shout for joy and are glad.

The righteous care about justice for the poor,(L)
    but the wicked have no such concern.

Mockers stir up a city,
    but the wise turn away anger.(M)

If a wise person goes to court with a fool,
    the fool rages and scoffs, and there is no peace.

10 The bloodthirsty hate a person of integrity
    and seek to kill the upright.(N)

11 Fools give full vent to their rage,(O)
    but the wise bring calm in the end.(P)

12 If a ruler(Q) listens to lies,
    all his officials become wicked.(R)

13 The poor and the oppressor have this in common:
    The Lord gives sight to the eyes of both.(S)

14 If a king judges the poor with fairness,
    his throne will be established forever.(T)

15 A rod and a reprimand impart wisdom,
    but a child left undisciplined disgraces its mother.(U)

16 When the wicked thrive, so does sin,
    but the righteous will see their downfall.(V)

17 Discipline your children, and they will give you peace;
    they will bring you the delights you desire.(W)

18 Where there is no revelation, people cast off restraint;
    but blessed is the one who heeds wisdom’s instruction.(X)

19 Servants cannot be corrected by mere words;
    though they understand, they will not respond.

20 Do you see someone who speaks in haste?
    There is more hope for a fool than for them.(Y)

21 A servant pampered from youth
    will turn out to be insolent.

22 An angry person stirs up conflict,
    and a hot-tempered person commits many sins.(Z)

23 Pride brings a person low,(AA)
    but the lowly in spirit gain honor.(AB)

24 The accomplices of thieves are their own enemies;
    they are put under oath and dare not testify.(AC)

25 Fear(AD) of man will prove to be a snare,
    but whoever trusts in the Lord(AE) is kept safe.(AF)

26 Many seek an audience with a ruler,(AG)
    but it is from the Lord that one gets justice.(AH)

27 The righteous detest the dishonest;
    the wicked detest the upright.(AI)

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 29:4 Or who give