Bible Gateway passage: Proverbs 29 - New King James Version (2024)

Happy Is He Who Keeps the Law

29He^(A) who is often rebuked, and hardens his neck,
Will suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy.

²When the righteous ^[a]are in authority, the ^(B)people rejoice;
But when a wicked man rules, ^(C)the people groan.

³Whoever loves wisdom makes his father rejoice,
But a companion of harlots wastes his wealth.

⁴The king establishes the land by justice,
But he who receives bribes overthrows it.

⁵A man who ^(D)flatters his neighbor
Spreads a net for his feet.

⁶By transgression an evil man is snared,
But the righteous sings and rejoices.

⁷The righteous ^(E)considers the cause of the poor,
But the wicked does not understand such knowledge.

⁸Scoffers ^(F)set a city aflame,
But wise men turn away wrath.

⁹If a wise man contends with a foolish man,
^(G)Whether the fool rages or laughs, there is no peace.

^10(H)The bloodthirsty hate the blameless,
But the upright seek his ^[b]well-being.

¹¹A fool vents all his ^(I)feelings,^[c]
But a wise man holds them back.

¹²If a ruler pays attention to lies,
All his servants become wicked.

¹³The poor man and the oppressor have this in common:
^(J)The Lord gives light to the eyes of both.

¹⁴The king who judges the ^(K)poor with truth,
His throne will be established forever.

¹⁵The rod and rebuke give ^(L)wisdom,
But a child left to himself brings shame to his mother.

¹⁶When the wicked are multiplied, transgression increases;
But the righteous will see their ^(M)fall.

¹⁷Correct your son, and he will give you rest;
Yes, he will give delight to your soul.

^18(N)Where there is no ^[d]revelation, the people cast off restraint;
But ^(O)happy is he who keeps the law.

¹⁹A servant will not be corrected by mere words;
For though he understands, he will not respond.

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

²¹He who pampers his servant from childhood
Will have him as a son in the end.

^22(Q)An angry man stirs up strife,
And a furious man abounds in transgression.

^23(R)A man’s pride will bring him low,
But the humble in spirit will retain honor.

²⁴Whoever is a partner with a thief hates his own life;
^(S)He ^[e]swears to tell the truth, but reveals nothing.

^25(T)The fear of man brings a snare,
But whoever trusts in the Lord shall be ^[f]safe.

^26(U)Many seek the ruler’s ^[g]favor,
But justice for man comes from the Lord.

²⁷An unjust man is an abomination to the righteous,
And he who is upright in the way is an abomination to the wicked.