Proverbs 29
1 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.
Anyone who goes on stubbornly rejecting many warnings will be suddenly destroyed, without hope of healing.
2 When righteous [people] are rulers, people are happy, but when wicked [people] rule, people (groan/are miserable).
When good people are in charge, everybody celebrates; but when the wicked rule, everybody groans.
3 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.
A man who loves wisdom makes his father happy, but one who visits prostitutes throws away his money.
4 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.
A king who rules justly makes the country secure, but one who asks for bribes will destroy it.
5 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].
Those who flatter their friends lay a net to trip them up.
6 Evil people will be trapped by the sins that they commit, but righteous/honest people will sing and be joyful/happy.
Evil people are trapped by their own sins, but those who do right sing and celebrate.
7 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.
Good people care about treating the poor fairly, but the wicked don't think about it at all.
8 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.
Cynical people can inflame a whole city, but the wise calm angry people down.
9 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).
When a wise man takes a stupid man to court, there's raging and ridicule, but nothing is settled.
10 Those who murder others hate people who (are honest/always do what is right), but righteous [people] try to protect them.
Murderers hate people of integrity, but those who live right try to help them.
11 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).
Stupid people let all their anger out, while wise people quietly hold it in.
12 If a ruler (pays attention to/believes) [people who tell] lies, all his officials will [also] become wicked.
A ruler who listens to lies will have nothing but wicked officials.
13 There is one thing that is true about both poor people and those who oppress them: Yahweh enables all of them to see.
Poor people and their oppressors have this in common: the Lord gives life to all of them.
14 If kings judge poor [people] fairly, they will continue to rule for a long time.
If a king judges the poor fairly, he will have a long rule.
15 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.
Discipline and correction provide wisdom, but a son left undisciplined is an embarrassment to his mother.
16 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.
When the wicked are in power, sin increases; but the good will see their downfall.
17 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].
Discipline your children and they won't give you any worries; they will make you very happy.
18 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.
Without a revelation from God, the people go out of control, but those who keep the law are happy.
19 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.
A servant can't be disciplined by words alone; though they understand, they don't follow what they're told.
20 [God] can help/bless foolish people more easily [RHQ] than he can help/bless people who speak without thinking first.
Have you seen a man who speaks without thinking? There's more hope for stupid people than for him!
21 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.
A servant indulged from childhood will in the end become unmanageable.
22 Those who [quickly] become angry cause [many] arguments, and they [also] commit many sins.
Angry people stir up trouble, those with short tempers commit many sins.
23 Proud people will be disgraced; those who are humble will be respected.
If you're proud, you'll be humiliated; but if you're humble, you'll be honored.
24 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].
A thief's partner hates his life; even under the threat of being cursed he can't tell the truth.
25 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.
Being afraid of people traps you, but if you trust in the Lord you're safe.
26 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.
Many people look for favors from a ruler, but justice comes from the Lord.
27 Righteous [people] hate/detest those who do what is evil, and wicked [people] hate [those whose behavior is always] good.
Good people hate those who are unjust; the wicked hate those who do what's right.
