29
Warnings and Instructions
1 A man who hardens
his neck after
Amuch reproof
Will
Bsuddenly be broken
1beyond remedy.
2 When the
Arighteous
1increase, the people rejoice,
But when a wicked man rules, people groan.
3 A man who
Aloves wisdom makes his father glad,
But he who
Bkeeps company with harlots wastes
his wealth.
4 The
Aking gives stability to the land by justice,
But a man who takes bribes overthrows it.
5 A man who
Aflatters his neighbor
Is spreading a net for his steps.
6 By transgression an evil man is
Aensnared,
But the righteous
Bsings and rejoices.
7 The
Arighteous
1is concerned for the rights of the poor,
The wicked does not understand
such 2concern.
8 Scorners
Aset a city aflame,
But
Bwise men turn away anger.
9 When a wise man has a controversy with a foolish man,
1The foolish man either rages or laughs, and there is no rest.
10 Men of
Abloodshed hate the blameless,
But the upright
1are concerned for his life.
11 A
Afool
1always loses his temper,
But a
Bwise man holds it back.
12 If a
Aruler pays attention to falsehood,
All his ministers become wicked.
13 The
Apoor man and the oppressor
1have this in common:
The Loʀᴅ gives
Blight to the eyes of both.
14 If a
Aking judges the poor with truth,
His
Bthrone will be established forever.
15 The
Arod and reproof give wisdom,
But a child
1who gets his own way
Bbrings shame to his mother.
16 When the wicked
1increase, transgression increases;
But the
Arighteous will see their fall.
17 ACorrect your son, and he will give you comfort;
He will also
1Bdelight your soul.
18 Where there is
Ano
1vision, the people
Bare unrestrained,
But
Chappy is he who keeps the law.
19 A slave will not be instructed by words alone;
For though he understands, there will be no response.
20 Do you see a man who is
Ahasty in his words?
There is
Bmore hope for a fool than for him.
21 He who pampers his slave from childhood
Will in the end find him to be a son.
22 An
Aangry man stirs up strife,
And a hot-tempered man abounds in transgression.
23 A man’s
Apride will bring him low,
But a
Bhumble spirit will obtain honor.
24 He who is a partner with a thief hates his own life;
He
Ahears the oath but tells nothing.
25 The
Afear of man
1brings a snare,
But he who
Btrusts in the Loʀᴅ will be exalted.
26 AMany seek the ruler’s
1favor,
But
Bjustice for man
comes from the Loʀᴅ.
27 An
Aunjust man is abominable to the righteous,
And he who is
Bupright in the way is abominable to the wicked.