Proverbs 29
29
1Whoever still won’t obey after being warned many times
will suddenly be destroyed. Nothing can save them.
2When those who do right grow stronger, the people are glad.
But when those who do wrong become rulers, the people groan.
3A man who loves wisdom makes his father glad.
But a man who spends time with prostitutes wastes his father’s wealth.
4By doing what is fair, a king makes a country secure.
But those who only want money tear it down.
5Those who only pretend to praise their neighbors
are spreading a net to catch them by the feet.
6Sinful people are trapped by their own sin.
But godly people shout for joy and are glad.
7Those who do what is right want to treat poor people fairly.
But those who do what is wrong don’t care about the poor.
8Those who make fun of others stir up a city.
But wise people turn anger away.
9Suppose a wise person goes to court with a foolish person.
Then the foolish person gets mad and pokes fun, and there is no peace.
10Murderers hate honest people.
They try to kill those who do what is right.
11Foolish people let their anger run wild.
But wise people keep themselves under control.
12If rulers listen to lies,
all their officials become evil.
13The Lord gives sight to the eyes of poor people and those who treat others badly.
That’s what they both have in common.
14If a king judges poor people fairly,
his throne will always be secure.
15If a child is corrected, they become wise.
But a child who is not corrected brings shame to their mother.
16When those who do wrong grow stronger, so does sin.
But those who do right will see them destroyed.
17If you correct your children, they will give you peace.
They will bring you the delights you desire.
18Where there is no message from God, people don’t control themselves.
But blessed is the one who obeys wisdom’s instruction.
19Servants can’t be corrected only by words.
Even if they understand, they won’t obey.
20Have you seen someone who speaks without thinking?
There is more hope for foolish people than for that person.
21A servant who has been spoiled from youth
will have no respect for you later on.
22An angry person stirs up fights.
And a person with a bad temper commits many sins.
23Pride brings a person low.
But those whose spirits are low will be honored.
24To help a thief is to become your own enemy.
When you go to court, you won’t dare to say anything.
25If you are afraid of people, it will trap you.
But if you trust in the Lord, he will keep you safe.
26Many people want to meet a ruler.
But only the Lord sees that people are treated fairly.
27Those who do what is right hate dishonest people.
Those who do what is wrong hate honest people.
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Proverbs 29: NIrV
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Holy Bible, New International Reader’s Version®, NIrV®
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Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Proverbs 29
29
If People Can’t See What God Is Doing
1For people who hate discipline
and only get more stubborn,
There’ll come a day when life tumbles in and they break,
but by then it’ll be too late to help them.
2When good people run things, everyone is glad,
but when the ruler is bad, everyone groans.
3If you love wisdom, you’ll delight your parents,
but you’ll destroy their trust if you run with prostitutes.
4A leader of good judgment gives stability;
an exploiting leader leaves a trail of waste.
5A flattering neighbor is up to no good;
he’s probably planning to take advantage of you.
6Evil people fall into their own traps;
good people run the other way, glad to escape.
7The good-hearted understand what it’s like to be poor;
the hardhearted haven’t the faintest idea.
8A gang of cynics can upset a whole city;
a group of sages can calm everyone down.
9A sage trying to work things out with a fool
gets only scorn and sarcasm for his trouble.
10Murderers hate honest people;
moral folks encourage them.
11A fool lets it all hang out;
a sage quietly mulls it over.
12When a leader listens to malicious gossip,
all the workers get infected with evil.
13The poor and their abusers have at least something in common:
they can both see—their sight, God’s gift!
14Leadership gains authority and respect
when the voiceless poor are treated fairly.
15Wise discipline imparts wisdom;
spoiled adolescents embarrass their parents.
16When degenerates take charge, crime runs wild,
but the righteous will eventually observe their collapse.
17Discipline your children; you’ll be glad you did—
they’ll turn out delightful to live with.
18If people can’t see what God is doing,
they stumble all over themselves;
But when they attend to what he reveals,
they are most blessed.
19It takes more than talk to keep workers in line;
mere words go in one ear and out the other.
20Observe the people who always talk before they think—
even simpletons are better off than they are.
21If you let people treat you like a doormat,
you’ll be quite forgotten in the end.
22Angry people stir up a lot of discord;
the intemperate stir up trouble.
23Pride lands you flat on your face;
humility prepares you for honors.
24Befriend an outlaw
and become an enemy to yourself.
When the victims cry out,
you’ll be included in their curses
if you’re a coward to their cause in court.
25The fear of human opinion disables;
trusting in God protects you from that.
26Everyone tries to get help from the leader,
but only God will give us justice.
27Good people can’t stand the sight of deliberate evil;
the wicked can’t stand the sight of well-chosen goodness.
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THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language copyright © 1993, 2002, 2018 by Eugene H. Peterson. All rights reserved. Used by permission of NavPress. Represented by Tyndale House Publishers.