Proverbs 29

1 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.

A person who has received many rebukes but who stiffens his neck will be broken in a moment beyond healing.

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

When righteous people increase, the people rejoice, but when a wicked person is the ruler, the people sigh.

3 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.

Whoever loves wisdom makes his father rejoice, but he who keeps company with prostitutes destroys his wealth.

4 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.

The king establishes the land by justice, but the one who demands bribes tears it down.

5 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].

A man who flatters his neighbor is spreading a net for his feet.

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

In the sin of an evil person is a trap, but the righteous person sings and rejoices.

7 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.

The righteous person knows the rights of the poor; the wicked person does not understand such knowledge.

8 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.

Mockers set a city on fire, but those who are wise turn away wrath.

9 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).

When a wise person has an argument with a fool, he rages and laughs, and there will be no rest.

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

The bloodthirsty hate the one who is blameless and seek the life of the upright.

11 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).

A fool reveals all his anger, but a wise man holds it back and calms himself down.

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

If a ruler pays attention to lies, all his officials will be wicked.

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

The poor person and the oppressor are similar, for Yahweh gives light to the eyes of them both.

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

If a king judges the poor by the truth, his throne will be established forever.

15 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.

The rod and reproof give wisdom, but a child freed from discipline puts his mother to shame.

16 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.

When wicked people are in power, transgression increases, but righteous people will see the downfall of those wicked people.

17 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].

Discipline your son and he will give you rest; he will bring delights into your life.

18 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.

Where there is no prophetic vision the people run wild, but the one who keeps the law is blessed.

19 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.

A slave will not be corrected by words, for though he understands, there will be no response.

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

See a man who is hasty in his words? There is more hope for a fool than for him.

21 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.

One who pampers his slave from youth, at the end of it there will be trouble.

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

An angry person stirs up strife and a master of rage commits many sins.

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

A person's pride brings him low, but one who has a humble spirit will be given honor.

24 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].

One who shares with a thief hates his own life; he hears the curse and says nothing.

25 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.

The fear of man makes a snare, but the one who trusts in Yahweh will be protected.

26 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.

Many are those who seek the face of the ruler, but from Yahweh is justice for a person.

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

An unjust man is an abomination to righteous people, but the one whose way is upright is detestable to the wicked person.