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Wisdom & Poetry · WORLD ENGLISH BIBLE

Proverbs 29

Wisdom for character, speech, work, relationships, justice, money, and reverence for God.

Old Testament

Proverbs 29

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: The LORD 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 the LORD is kept safe.

26Many seek the ruler’s favor, but a man’s justice comes from the LORD.

27A dishonest man detests the righteous, and the upright in their ways detest the wicked.

READ IN CONTEXT

Before applying this chapter

Wisdom for character, speech, work, relationships, justice, money, and reverence for God. Read Proverbs 29 within the complete Proverbs overview, and use the contextual Bible reading guide before forming a personal application. Chapter divisions aid navigation, but the literary unit may begin earlier or continue into the next chapter.

Observe first

Mark repeated words, changes of speaker, commands, promises, contrasts, questions, and the relationship between paragraphs.

Apply responsibly

Distinguish description from command and immediate audience from later readers before forming a personal application.

TEXT-DERIVED READING NOTES

What to notice in Proverbs 29

Proverbs 29 contains 27 verses and about 403 words in this translation. These observations come from the chapter itself; they are prompts for close reading, not claims about its only possible meaning.

The opening movement

Verse 1 begins: “He who is often rebuked and stiffens his neck will be destroyed suddenly, with no remedy.” Ask what situation, voice, image, or argument this opening establishes for everything that follows.

The closing movement

Verse 27 closes: “A dishonest man detests the righteous, and the upright in their ways detest the wicked.” Compare the ending with the opening and note what changed, resolved, intensified, or remained open.

Vocabulary worth tracing

Recurring or prominent content words include will, righteous, wicked, people, whoever, brings. Follow where each word appears and whether its meaning shifts with the speaker or setting.

COMMON QUESTIONS

About Proverbs 29

Which Bible translation is shown here?+

This page reproduces the World English Bible Protestant edition (WEBP), a modern-English translation dedicated to the public domain.

How should I cite a specific verse?+

Use the book, chapter, and verse—for example, Proverbs 29:1—and name the World English Bible if the wording matters. Each verse number above is a direct anchor link.

Does the chapter number define the complete literary unit?+

Not always. Chapter and verse numbers were added for navigation. Check the paragraphs, scenes, poetic stanzas, or argument before and after this chapter.

A SMALL NEXT STEP

You do not have to have everything figured out.

Begin with one honest question, one passage read carefully, and one faithful next step.

Start with prayer