¹A man who hardens his neck after much reproof

Will suddenly be broken beyond healing.

²When the righteous increase, the people are glad,[#29:2 Or become great]

But when a wicked man rules, people groan.

³A man who loves wisdom makes his father glad,

But he who befriends harlots destroys his wealth.

⁴By justice the king causes the land to stand,

But a man of bribes tears it down.

⁵A man who flatters his neighbor

Is spreading a net for his steps.

⁶By transgression an evil man is ensnared,

But the righteous sings with joy and is glad.

⁷The righteous knows the cause of the poor,

The wicked does not understand that knowledge.

⁸Scoffers set a city aflame,[#29:8 Lit breathe out]

But wise men turn away anger.

⁹When a wise man is brought into judgment with a man who is an ignorant fool,

The ignorant fool both rages and laughs, and there is no rest.

¹⁰Men of bloodshed hate the blameless,

But the upright seek the well-being of his soul.

¹¹A fool lets out all of his spirit,[#29:11 Lit sends forth all his spirit]

But a wise man holds it back.

¹²If a ruler pays attention to a lying word,

All his ministers become wicked.

¹³The poor man and the oppressor meet together in this —

Yahweh gives light to the eyes of both.

¹⁴If a king judges the poor with truth,

His throne will be established forever.

¹⁵The rod and reproof give wisdom,

But a child left to himself brings shame to his mother.

¹⁶When the wicked increase, transgression increases;[#29:16 Or become great]

But the righteous will see their fall.

¹⁷Discipline your son, and he will give you rest;

And he will give delight to your soul.

¹⁸Where there is no vision, the people are out of control,[#29:18 Or revelation]

But how blessed is he who keeps the law.

¹⁹A slave will not be corrected by words alone ;

For though he understands, there will be no answer.

²⁰Do you behold a man who is hasty in his words?

There is more hope for a fool than for him.

²¹He who pampers his slave from childhood

Will in the end find him to be arrogant.

²²An angry man stirs up strife,

And a hot-tempered man abounds in transgression.

²³A man’s lofty pride will bring him low,

But a lowly spirit will take hold of glory.

²⁴He who divides the spoil with a thief hates his own soul;[#29:24 Or partners]

He hears the oath but declares nothing.

²⁵Trembling before man brings a snare,[#29:25 Lit gives]

But he who trusts in Yahweh will be set securely on high.

²⁶Many seek the face of a ruler,

But justice for man comes from Yahweh.

²⁷An unjust man is an abomination to the righteous,

And he who is upright in the way is an abomination to the wicked.