Proverbs 29
New King James Version
Happy Is He Who Keeps the Law
29 He(A) who is often rebuked, and hardens his neck,
Will suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy.
2 When the righteous [a]are in authority, the (B)people rejoice;
But when a wicked man rules, (C)the people groan.
3 Whoever loves wisdom makes his father rejoice,
But a companion of harlots wastes his wealth.
4 The king establishes the land by justice,
But he who receives bribes overthrows it.
5 A man who (D)flatters his neighbor
Spreads a net for his feet.
6 By transgression an evil man is snared,
But the righteous sings and rejoices.
7 The righteous (E)considers the cause of the poor,
But the wicked does not understand such knowledge.
8 Scoffers (F)set a city aflame,
But wise men turn away wrath.
9 If a wise man contends with a foolish man,
(G)Whether the fool rages or laughs, there is no peace.
12 If a ruler pays attention to lies,
All his servants become wicked.
13 The poor man and the oppressor have this in common:
(J)The Lord gives light to the eyes of both.
14 The king who judges the (K)poor with truth,
His throne will be established forever.
15 The rod and rebuke give (L)wisdom,
But a child left to himself brings shame to his mother.
16 When the wicked are multiplied, transgression increases;
But the righteous will see their (M)fall.
17 Correct your son, and he will give you rest;
Yes, he will give delight to your soul.
18 (N)Where there is no [d]revelation, the people cast off restraint;
But (O)happy is he who keeps the law.
19 A servant will not be corrected by mere words;
For though he understands, he will not respond.
20 Do you see a man hasty in his words?
(P)There is more hope for a fool than for him.
21 He who pampers his servant from childhood
Will have him as a son in the end.
22 (Q)An angry man stirs up strife,
And a furious man abounds in transgression.
23 (R)A man’s pride will bring him low,
But the humble in spirit will retain honor.
24 Whoever is a partner with a thief hates his own life;
(S)He [e]swears to tell the truth, but reveals nothing.
27 An unjust man is an abomination to the righteous,
And he who is upright in the way is an abomination to the wicked.
Footnotes
- Proverbs 29:2 become great
- Proverbs 29:10 Lit. soul or life
- Proverbs 29:11 Lit. spirit
- Proverbs 29:18 prophetic vision
- Proverbs 29:24 Lit. hears the adjuration or oath
- Proverbs 29:25 secure, lit. set on high
- Proverbs 29:26 Lit. face
Mishle 29
Orthodox Jewish Bible
29 He, that being often reproved, stiffeneth his neck, shall suddenly be destroyed, and that without marpeh (remedy).
2 When the tzaddikim are increased, the people rejoice, but when the rasha beareth rule, the people groan.
3 He who loveth chochmah rejoiceth aviv, but he that keepeth company with zonot squanders his hon (substance, wealth).
4 Melech by mishpat establisheth eretz, but an ish terumot (a man of bribes) bringeth it down.
5 A gever that flattereth his neighbor spreadeth a reshet (net) for his feet.
6 By peysha (transgression) an ish rah is snared, but the tzaddik doth sing and have simchah.
7 The tzaddik considereth the cause of the dalim, but the rasha (wicked) doeth not understand such da’as (knowledge).
8 Scornful men enflame a city, but chachamim turn away af (wrath).
9 If an ish chacham has to contend with a fool, he [the fool] rageth or laugheth, and hath no rest.
10 The anshei damim hate integrity, but the yesharim seek his nefesh (soul, i.e., his soul’s well-being).
11 A kesil (fool) uttereth all his wrath, but a chacham keepeth it back quietly.
12 If a moshel pays heed to davar sheker, all his mesharetim (officials, ministers) are resha’im.
13 The rahsh (pauper) and the oppressor have this in common: Hashem enlighteneth both their eynayim.
14 If Melech shofet be’emes (judges in truth) the dalim, his kisse shall be established forever.
15 The shevet (rod) and tokhakhat (reproof) give chochmah, but a na’ar (child) left to himself bringeth immo to shame.
16 When the resha’im are multiplied, peysha (transgression) increaseth, but the tzaddikim shall see their downfall.
17 Correct binecha, and he shall give thee rest; indeed, he shall give delight unto thy nefesh.
18 Where there is no chazon (prophetic vision), the people cast off restaint [i.e., perish ungovernable], but he that is shomer over the torah, happy is he.
19 An eved will not be corrected by devarim, for though he understand he will not answer.
20 Seest thou an ish that is hasty in his devarim? There is more tikvah for a kesil (fool) than for him.
21 He that pampers his eved from youth up shall have him as his ben at the acharit (end).
22 An ish af (angry man) stirreth up strife, and a ba’al chemah (ill-tempered man) aboundeth in peysha (transgression).
23 Ga’avat adam (pride of man) shall bring him low, but the humble in ruach shall attain kavod.
24 He who is partner with a ganav hateth his own nefesh; he heareth the curse of the victim but discloses nothing.
25 The fear of adam bringeth a mokesh (snare), but he who putteth his trust in Hashem shall be secure.
26 Many seek the moshel’s favor, but mishpat ish cometh from Hashem.
27 An unjust man is a to’evah to the tzaddikim, and he that is yeshar derech (upright in the way) is to’evah to the rasha.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
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