29
📚He who shows himself stubbornafter many rebukes will suddenly
be destroyed,
and that without remedy.
2 📚When the righteous are in authority
the people rejoice,
but when the wicked rule,
the people mourn.
3 📚Whoever loves wisdom brings joy
to his father,
but he who associates with prostitutes
squanders his wealth.
4 📚The king gives stability to the land by justice,
but he who accepts bribes overthrows it.
5 📚A man who flatters his neighbour
is spreading a net for his feet.
29:5 Prov 26:28; Ps 55:21. A person who flatters another is out to accomplish some selfish purpose of his own.⚜
6 📚In the transgression of an evil man
there is a snare 📖,
but the righteous sing and rejoice 📖.
7 📚The righteous are concerned
with the cause of the poor,
but the wicked do not consider it.
8 📚Scornful men bring a city into a snare,
but wise men turn away wrath.
29:8 Prov 16:14; Jam 3:17-18; Num 16:46-48; 25:3, 7, 10-13. Jesus, Who is the wisdom of God, sacrificed Himself and turned away the holy anger of God from sinful men who put their trust in Him.⚜
9 📚If a wise man argues with a foolish man,
whether he rages or laughs,
there is no rest.
10 📚The bloodthirsty hate the upright,
but the righteous seek to make his soul secure.
29:10 Verse 27; Gen 4:8; 1 Sam 18:10; Esther 3:8-9; Ps 11:2; 57:4; 64:2-4; Dan 3:19-20; John 15:18-19; 1 John 3:12. The world is a battlefield where the righteous and the wicked are involved in a very important conflict. It has been such from the days of Cain and Abel, and will be to the end of this age. The righteous God and His righteous people are at war with wickedness, and the wicked are at war with righteousness. In this struggle there is no such thing as non-alignment or neutrality. See Jud 5:23.⚜
11 📚A fool utters everything in his mind,
but a wise person holds it back until later.
12 📚If a ruler listens to lies,
all his servants become wicked.
29:12 If a leader does not want the truth he will surround himself with wicked people who tell him pleasant lies (see 1 Kings 22:1-8).⚜
13 📚The poor and the oppressor have
this in common:
the LORD gives light to the eyes of both.
14 📚As for the king who judges
the poor with truth,
his throne will be established forever.
15 📚 The rod and correction give wisdom,
but a child left to himself
brings his mother to shame.
16 📚When the wicked are multiplied,
transgression increases,
but the righteous will see their fall.
29:16 Prov 10:25; 14:11; 21:12. The righteous will eventually see the downfall of the whole evil world system and all its wickedness. This will be the final result of the struggle mentioned in vs 10,27. See Ps 1:6.⚜
17 📚Correct your son and he will give
you comfort, yes,
he will give delight to your soul.
29:17 Discipline will help to form character and train children in the way they should go. This is the reason God Himself disciplines His children – Heb 12:6-11.⚜
18 📚Where there is no vision,
the people perish 📖, but he who keeps the law,
happy 📖 is he.
19 📚A servant will not be corrected by
mere words,
for though he understands he will not respond.
20 📚Do you see a man who is
hasty in his words?
There is more hope for a fool
than for him.
21 He who pampers his servant from childhood
at length will have him become his son.
22 📚An angry man stirs up strife,
and a furious man commits many transgressions.
23 📚A man’s pride will bring him low,
but the humble in spirit will obtain honour.
24 📚Whoever is partner with a thief hates
his own soul;
he hears the oath but tells nothing.
25 📚The fear of man 📖 brings a snare,
but whoever puts his trust in the LORD
will be safe.
26 📚Many seek the ruler’s favour,
but a man’s justice comes
from the LORD.
29:26 If we get any justice in this world it will be God Who causes it to happen.⚜
27 📚 An unjust man is an abomination
to the just,
and he who is upright in the way
is an abomination to the wicked.