Proverbs 29
1 A man often reproved, hardening the neck, Is suddenly broken, and there is no healing.
Some people remain stubborn [IDM] [even] though they are often reproved/warned [about doing what is wrong], [but some day] they will be crushed/ruined, and nothing will be able to heal them.
2 In the multiplying of the righteous the people rejoice, And in the ruling of the wicked the people sigh.
When righteous [people] are rulers, people are happy, but when wicked [people] rule, people (groan/are miserable).
3 A man loving wisdom makes his father glad, And a friend of harlots destroys wealth.
Those who are eager to become wise cause their parents to be glad; those who spend their time with prostitutes will end up giving all their money to them.
4 A king establishes a land by judgment, And one receiving gifts throws it down.
When a king rules justly/fairly, he causes his nation to be strong, but a king who is concerned [only] with getting more money from the people ruins his nation.
5 A man taking a portion above his neighbor, Spreads a net for his own steps.
Those who (flatter others/say nice things to others [merely] to cause them to feel good) are really setting a trap for them (OR, for themselves) [SYN].
6 A snare [is] in the transgression of the evil, And the righteous sing and rejoice.
Evil people will be trapped by the sins that they commit, but righteous/honest people will sing and be joyful/happy.
7 The righteous knows the plea of the poor, The wicked does not understand knowledge.
Righteous/Good people know that poor [people] should be treated fairly/justly, [but] wicked people (are not concerned about/do not pay attention to) those matters at all.
8 Men of scorning ensnare a city, And the wise turn back anger.
Those who make fun of [everything that is good say things that] cause [everyone in] the city to (be agitated/in turmoil); those who are wise enable [people] to remain calm.
9 A wise man is judged by the foolish man, And he has been angry, And he has laughed, and there is no rest.
If a wise person sues a foolish person, the foolish person merely laughs [at him] and yells [at him] and will not be quiet (OR, [the dispute will] not be resolved).
10 Men of blood hate the perfect, And the upright seek his soul.
Those who murder others hate people who (are honest/always do what is right), but righteous [people] try to protect them.
11 A fool brings out all his mind, And the wise restrains it until afterward.
People who are wise are patient and restrain/control themselves when they are angry, but foolish people (quickly show others that they are very angry/do not restrain themselves at all).
12 A ruler who is attending to lying words, All his ministers [are] wicked.
If a ruler (pays attention to/believes) [people who tell] lies, all his officials will [also] become wicked.
13 The poor and the man of frauds have met together, YHWH is enlightening the eyes of them both.
There is one thing that is true about both poor people and those who oppress them: Yahweh enables all of them to see.
14 A king that is judging the poor with truth, His throne is established forever.
If kings judge poor [people] fairly, they will continue to rule for a long time.
15 A rod and reproof give wisdom, And a youth let away is shaming his mother.
If children are punished/spanked and reproved/warned, they become wise; but if they are allowed to do whatever they want to do, they [do things that] cause their mothers to be ashamed of them.
16 In the multiplying of the wicked transgression multiplies, And the righteous look on their fall.
When wicked [people] rule, there are more crimes committed {people commit more crimes}, but [some day] those wicked people will (be defeated/no longer rule), and righteous [people] will see that happen.
17 Discipline your son, and he gives you comfort, Indeed, he gives delights to your soul.
If you discipline your children, they will no longer [do things that] will cause you to be worried; instead, they [will do things that] will delight you [SYN].
18 A people is made naked without a vision, And whoever is keeping the Law, O his blessedness!
When the people [of a nation] do not receive messages that come directly from God, they do not control their behavior. [God] is pleased with those who obey his laws.
19 By words a servant is not instructed though he understand, And there is nothing answering.
It is not possible to correct/discipline servants only by talking to them; they understand what you are saying, but they do not pay attention to it.
20 You have seen a man hasty in his words! More hope of a fool than of him.
[God] can help/bless foolish people more easily [RHQ] than he can help/bless people who speak without thinking first.
21 Whoever is bringing up his servant delicately, from youth, [At] his latter end he is also continuator.
If someone gives his servants everything that they want, starting from when they are young, some day those servants will take from him everything that he owns.
22 An angry man stirs up contention, And a furious man is multiplying transgression.
Those who [quickly] become angry cause [many] arguments, and they [also] commit many sins.
23 The pride of man humbles him, And humility of spirit upholds honor.
Proud people will be disgraced; those who are humble will be respected.
24 Whoever is sharing with a thief is hating his own soul, He hears execration, and does not tell.
Those who help thieves [to steal] only hurt themselves; [when they are in court], they solemnly ask [God] to curse them [if they do not tell the truth], but they do not tell the truth [about the crime that was committed], [and as a result, God will curse them].
25 Fear of man causes a snare, And the confident in YHWH is set on high.
It is [like] a dangerous trap [MET] [for people] to be (afraid of/worried about) what others will think about them, but those who trust in Yahweh are safe/protected.
26 Many are seeking the face of a ruler, And the judgment of each [is] from YHWH.
Many [people] request rulers to do things to help them, but Yahweh is [the only one] who surely does for people what is fair/just.
27 The perverse man [is] an abomination to the righteous, And the upright in the way [is] an abomination to the wicked!
Righteous [people] hate/detest those who do what is evil, and wicked [people] hate [those whose behavior is always] good.
