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.
Currently Selected:
Proverbs 29: MSG
Highlight
Share
Copy
Want to have your highlights saved across all your devices? Sign up or sign in
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.
Proverbs 29
29
1 The man who, with a stiff neck, treats the one who corrects him with contempt will be suddenly overwhelmed to his own destruction, and reason shall not follow him.
2 When just men are multiplied, the common people shall rejoice. When the impious take up the leadership, the people shall mourn.
3 The man who loves wisdom rejoices his father. But whoever nurtures promiscuous women will lose his substance.
4 A just king guides the land. A man of avarice will destroy it.
5 A man who speaks to his friend with flattering and feigned words spreads a net for his own feet.
6 A snare will entangle the iniquitous when he sins. And the just shall praise and be glad.
7 The just knows the case of the poor. The impious is ignorant of knowledge.
8 Pestilent men squander a city. Yet truly, the wise avert fury.
9 A wise man, if he were to contend with the foolish, whether in anger or in laughter, would find no rest.
10 Bloodthirsty men hate the simple one; but the just seek out his soul.
11 A foolish one offers everything on his mind. A wise one reserves and defers until later.
12 A leader who freely listens to lying words has only impious servants.
13 The pauper and the creditor have met one another. The Lord is the illuminator of them both.
14 The king who judges the poor in truth, his throne shall be secured in eternity.
15 The rod and its correction distribute wisdom. But the child who is left to his own will brings shame to his mother.
16 When the impious are multiplied, crimes will be multiplied. But the just shall see their ruin.
17 Teach your son, and he will refresh you, and he will give delight to your soul.
18 When prophecy fails, the people will be scattered. Yet truly, whoever guards the law is blessed.
19 A servant cannot be taught by words, because he understands what you say, but he disdains to respond.
20 Have you seen a man rushing to speak? Foolishness has more hope than his correction.
21 Whoever nurtures his servant delicately from childhood, afterwards will find him defiant.
22 A short-tempered man provokes quarrels. And whoever is easily angered is more likely to sin.
23 Humiliation follows the arrogant. And glory shall uphold the humble in spirit.
24 Whoever participates with a thief hates his own soul; for he listens to his oath and does not denounce him.
25 Whoever fears man will quickly fall. Whoever hopes in the Lord shall be lifted up.
26 Many demand the face of the leader. But the judgment of each one proceeds from the Lord.
27 The just abhor an impious man. And the impious abhor those who are on the right way. By keeping the word, the son shall be free from perdition.
Currently Selected:
:
Highlight
Share
Copy
Want to have your highlights saved across all your devices? Sign up or sign in