Chapter 29

¹ A reprover is better than a stiff-necked man: for when the latter is suddenly set on fire, there shall be no remedy. ² When the righteous are praised, the people will rejoice: but when the ungodly rule, men mourn. ³ When a man loves wisdom, his father rejoices: but he that keeps harlots will waste wealth. ⁴ A righteous king establishes a country: but a transgressor destroys it. ⁵ He that prepares a net in the way of his own friend, entangles his own feet in it. ⁶ A great snare is spread for a sinner: but the righteous shall be in joy and gladness. ⁷ A righteous man knows how to judge for the poor: but the ungodly understands not knowledge; and the poor man has not an understanding mind.

⁸ Lawless men burn down a city: but wise men turn away wrath. ⁹ A wise man shall judge nations: but a worthless man being angry laughs and fears not. ¹⁰ Bloody men hate a holy person, but the upright will seek his soul. ¹¹ A fool utters all is mind: but the wise reserves his in part. ¹² When a king hearkens to unjust language, all his subjects are transgressors. ¹³ When the creditor and debtor meet together, the Lord oversees them both. ¹⁴ When a king judges the poor in truth, his throne shall be established ¹for a testimony. ¹⁵ Stripes and reproofs give wisdom: but an erring child disgraces his parents. ¹⁶ When the ungodly abound, sins abound: but when they fall, the righteous are warned.

¹⁷ Chasten thy son, and he shall give thee rest; and he shall give honour to thy soul. ¹⁸ There shall be no interpreter to a sinful nation: but he that observes the law is ²blessed. ¹⁹ A stubborn servant will not be reproved by words: for even if he understands, still he will not obey. ²⁰ If thou see a man hasty in his words, know that the fool has hope rather than he. ²¹ He that lives wantonly from a child, shall be a servant, and in the end shall grieve over himself. ²² A furious man stirs up strife, and a passionate man digs up sin. ²³ Pride brings a man low, but the Lord upholds the humble-minded with honour.

²⁴ He that shares with a thief, hates his own soul: and if any having heard an oath uttered tell not of it, ²⁵ they fearing and reverencing men unreasonably have been overthrown, but he that trusts in the Lord shall rejoice. Ungodliness causes a man to stumble: but he that trusts ³in his master shall be safe. ²⁶ Many wait on the favour of

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rulers; but justice comes to a man from the Lord. ²⁷ A righteous man is an abomination to an unrighteous man, and the direct way is an abomination to the sinner.