Study

29. Proverbs of Solomon

    ² When the righteous thrive, the people rejoice;
   when the wicked rule, the people groan.

    ³ A man who loves wisdom brings joy to his father,
   but a companion of prostitutes squanders his wealth.

    ⁴ By justice a king gives a country stability,
   but those who are greedy for Or who give bribes tear it down.

    ⁵ Those who flatter their neighbors
   are spreading nets for their feet.

    ⁶ Evildoers are snared by their own sin,
   but the righteous shout for joy and are glad.

    ⁷ The righteous care about justice for the poor,
   but the wicked have no such concern.

    ⁸ Mockers stir up a city,
   but the wise turn away anger.

    ⁹ If a wise person goes to court with a fool,
   the fool rages and scoffs, and there is no peace.

    ¹⁰ The bloodthirsty hate a person of integrity
   and seek to kill the upright.

    ¹¹ Fools give full vent to their rage,
   but the wise bring calm in the end.

    ¹² If a ruler listens to lies,
   all his officials become wicked.

    ¹³ The poor and the oppressor have this in common:
   The LORD gives sight to the eyes of both.

    ¹⁴ If a king judges the poor with fairness,
   his throne will be established forever.

    ¹⁵ A rod and a reprimand impart wisdom,
   but a child left undisciplined disgraces its mother.

    ¹⁶ When the wicked thrive, so does sin,
   but the righteous will see their downfall.

    ¹⁷ Discipline your children, and they will give you peace;
   they will bring you the delights you desire.

    ¹⁸ Where there is no revelation, people cast off restraint;
   but blessed is the one who heeds wisdom’s instruction.

    ¹⁹ Servants cannot be corrected by mere words;
   though they understand, they will not respond.

    ²⁰ Do you see someone who speaks in haste?
   There is more hope for a fool than for them.

    ²¹ A servant pampered from youth
   will turn out to be insolent.

    ²² An angry person stirs up conflict,
   and a hot-tempered person commits many sins.

    ²³ Pride brings a person low,
   but the lowly in spirit gain honor.

    ²⁴ The accomplices of thieves are their own enemies;
   they are put under oath and dare not testify.

    ²⁵ Fear of man will prove to be a snare,
   but whoever trusts in the LORD is kept safe.

    ²⁶ Many seek an audience with a ruler,
   but it is from the LORD that one gets justice.

    ²⁷ The righteous detest the dishonest;
   the wicked detest the upright.