The Bible — World English Bible
Proverbs 29
In brief
Proverbs 29 is a series of sayings about justice, wisdom and character. The wise man constantly contrasts the righteous and the wicked, the humble and the proud. He speaks of rulers who establish a country by justice or ruin it by corruption, of the discipline of children, of anger that stirs up quarrels and of the self-control of the wise. He warns against flattery, complicity with evil and the fear of man, and concludes that trust in the Lord keeps us safe and that it is he who brings justice.
The chapter in 4 parts
1He who is often rebuked and stiffens his neck will be destroyed suddenly, with no remedy.
2When the righteous thrive, the people rejoice; but when the wicked rule, the people groan.
3Whoever loves wisdom brings joy to his father; but a companion of prostitutes squanders his wealth.
4The king by justice makes the land stable, but he who takes bribes tears it down.
5A man who flatters his neighbor spreads a net for his feet.
6An evil man is snared by his sin, but the righteous can sing and be glad.
7The righteous care about justice for the poor. The wicked aren’t concerned about knowledge.
8Mockers stir up a city, but wise men turn away anger.
9If a wise man goes to court with a foolish man, the fool rages or scoffs, and there is no peace.
10The bloodthirsty hate a man of integrity; and they seek the life of the upright.
11A fool vents all of his anger, but a wise man brings himself under control.
12If a ruler listens to lies, all of his officials are wicked.
13The poor man and the oppressor have this in common: Yahweh gives sight to the eyes of both.
14The king who fairly judges the poor, his throne shall be established forever.
15The rod of correction gives wisdom, but a child left to himself causes shame to his mother.
16When the wicked increase, sin increases; but the righteous will see their downfall.
17Correct your son, and he will give you peace; yes, he will bring delight to your soul.
18Where there is no revelation, the people cast off restraint; but one who keeps the law is blessed.
19A servant can’t be corrected by words. Though he understands, yet he will not respond.
20Do you see a man who is hasty in his words? There is more hope for a fool than for him.
21He who pampers his servant from youth will have him become a son in the end.
22An angry man stirs up strife, and a wrathful man abounds in sin.
23A man’s pride brings him low, but one of lowly spirit gains honor.
24Whoever is an accomplice of a thief is an enemy of his own soul. He takes an oath, but dares not testify.
25The fear of man proves to be a snare, but whoever puts his trust in Yahweh is kept safe.
26Many seek the ruler’s favor, but a man’s justice comes from Yahweh.
27A dishonest man detests the righteous, and the upright in their ways detest the wicked.
Key verses
When the righteous thrive, the people rejoice; but when the wicked rule, the people groan.
When the righteous increase, the people rejoice; when the wicked rule, they groan. The proverb reminds us that the character of those who lead affects everyone.
A fool vents all of his anger, but a wise man brings himself under control.
The fool gives full vent to his feelings, but the wise man holds them back. It is not about hiding your emotions but about mastering them rather than being ruled by them.
Where there is no revelation, the people cast off restraint; but one who keeps the law is blessed.
This verse is translated in different ways: vision, revelation. In every case, it says that without direction from God, a people loses its course and its restraint.
A man’s pride brings him low, but one of lowly spirit gains honor.
Pride brings a person low, while the humble in spirit gain honor. It is a constant theme in Proverbs: God lifts up those who lower themselves.
The fear of man proves to be a snare, but whoever puts his trust in Yahweh is kept safe.
The fear of man is a snare, because it makes us stay silent, lie or retreat. Trust in the Lord keeps us safe, not from difficulties, but from the fear that gives the orders.
Bible verses to meditate on
Test your knowledge
Pray about this
What the sermons say
Frequently asked questions about Proverbs 29
What does Proverbs 29:18 mean?
Depending on the translation, the verse speaks of vision, revelation or direction. It says that without guidance from God, a people scatter and lose all restraint. The first part of the verse is understood in several ways, but the idea is the same everywhere: let God's word lead you rather than moving forward without any landmark.
What does Proverbs 29:25 mean: The fear of man lays a snare?
Fear of what others think can make us stay silent, lie or give up on what is right. The verse contrasts this trap with trust in the Lord, who protects. The text does not promise the absence of problems, but a security more solid than the approval of people.
What is the message of Proverbs 29?
The chapter shows that character decides the path: justice or corruption, self-control or anger, humility or pride, fear of man or trust in God. It invites us to accept correction and to seek wisdom, because it is the Lord who brings justice to each person.
Articles quoting Proverbs 29
World English Bible translation — public domain.