Proverbs 29

1 He who is often rebuked and stiffens his neck will be destroyed suddenly, with no remedy.

Some people remain stubborn [IDM] [even] though they are often reproved/warned [about doing what is wrong], [but some day] they will be crushed/ruined, and nothing will be able to heal them.

2 When the righteous thrive, the people rejoice; but when the wicked rule, the people groan.

When righteous [people] are rulers, people are happy, but when wicked [people] rule, people (groan/are miserable).

3 Whoever loves wisdom brings joy to his father; but a companion of prostitutes squanders his wealth.

Those who are eager to become wise cause their parents to be glad; those who spend their time with prostitutes will end up giving all their money to them.

4 The king by justice makes the land stable, but he who takes bribes tears it down.

When a king rules justly/fairly, he causes his nation to be strong, but a king who is concerned [only] with getting more money from the people ruins his nation.

5 A man who flatters his neighbor spreads a net for his feet.

Those who (flatter others/say nice things to others [merely] to cause them to feel good) are really setting a trap for them (OR, for themselves) [SYN].

6 An evil man is snared by his sin, but the righteous can sing and be glad.

Evil people will be trapped by the sins that they commit, but righteous/honest people will sing and be joyful/happy.

7 The righteous care about justice for the poor. The wicked are not concerned about knowledge.

Righteous/Good people know that poor [people] should be treated fairly/justly, [but] wicked people (are not concerned about/do not pay attention to) those matters at all.

8 Mockers stir up a city, but wise men turn away anger.

Those who make fun of [everything that is good say things that] cause [everyone in] the city to (be agitated/in turmoil); those who are wise enable [people] to remain calm.

9 If a wise man goes to court with a foolish man, the fool rages or scoffs, and there is no peace.

If a wise person sues a foolish person, the foolish person merely laughs [at him] and yells [at him] and will not be quiet (OR, [the dispute will] not be resolved).

10 The bloodthirsty hate a man of integrity; and they seek the life of the upright.

Those who murder others hate people who (are honest/always do what is right), but righteous [people] try to protect them.

11 A fool vents all of his anger, but a wise man brings himself under control.

People who are wise are patient and restrain/control themselves when they are angry, but foolish people (quickly show others that they are very angry/do not restrain themselves at all).

12 If a ruler listens to lies, all of his officials are wicked.

If a ruler (pays attention to/believes) [people who tell] lies, all his officials will [also] become wicked.

13 The poor man and the oppressor have this in common: The LORD gives sight to the eyes of both.

There is one thing that is true about both poor people and those who oppress them: Yahweh enables all of them to see.

14 The king who fairly judges the poor, his throne shall be established forever.

If kings judge poor [people] fairly, they will continue to rule for a long time.

15 The rod of correction gives wisdom, but a child left to himself causes shame to his mother.

If children are punished/spanked and reproved/warned, they become wise; but if they are allowed to do whatever they want to do, they [do things that] cause their mothers to be ashamed of them.

16 When the wicked increase, sin increases; but the righteous will see their downfall.

When wicked [people] rule, there are more crimes committed {people commit more crimes}, but [some day] those wicked people will (be defeated/no longer rule), and righteous [people] will see that happen.

17 Correct your son, and he will give you peace; yes, he will bring delight to your soul.

If you discipline your children, they will no longer [do things that] will cause you to be worried; instead, they [will do things that] will delight you [SYN].

18 Where there is no revelation, the people cast off restraint; but one who keeps the law is blessed.

When the people [of a nation] do not receive messages that come directly from God, they do not control their behavior. [God] is pleased with those who obey his laws.

19 A servant cannot be corrected by words. Though he understands, yet he will not respond.

It is not possible to correct/discipline servants only by talking to them; they understand what you are saying, but they do not pay attention to it.

20 Do you see a man who is hasty in his words? There is more hope for a fool than for him.

[God] can help/bless foolish people more easily [RHQ] than he can help/bless people who speak without thinking first.

21 He who pampers his servant from youth will have him become a son in the end.

If someone gives his servants everything that they want, starting from when they are young, some day those servants will take from him everything that he owns.

22 An angry man stirs up strife, and a wrathful man abounds in sin.

Those who [quickly] become angry cause [many] arguments, and they [also] commit many sins.

23 A man’s pride brings him low, but one of lowly spirit gains honor.

Proud people will be disgraced; those who are humble will be respected.

24 Whoever is an accomplice of a thief is an enemy of his own soul. He takes an oath, but dares not testify.

Those who help thieves [to steal] only hurt themselves; [when they are in court], they solemnly ask [God] to curse them [if they do not tell the truth], but they do not tell the truth [about the crime that was committed], [and as a result, God will curse them].

25 The fear of man proves to be a snare, but whoever puts his trust in the LORD is kept safe.

It is [like] a dangerous trap [MET] [for people] to be (afraid of/worried about) what others will think about them, but those who trust in Yahweh are safe/protected.

26 Many seek the ruler’s favor, but a man’s justice comes from the LORD.

Many [people] request rulers to do things to help them, but Yahweh is [the only one] who surely does for people what is fair/just.

27 A dishonest man detests the righteous, and the upright in their ways detest the wicked.

Righteous [people] hate/detest those who do what is evil, and wicked [people] hate [those whose behavior is always] good.