Proverbs 29

²When good leaders are in charge, people are happy. When evil leaders rule, people are sad.

³A child who loves wisdom makes his father very happy. But a person who follows evil people wastes everything good they have.

⁴A king who judges fairly builds a strong country. A king who takes bribes destroys it.

⁵A person who says only nice things to trick you is laying a trap. Flattery is not real kindness.

⁶Doing wrong traps the person who does it. But righteous people are free to sing and be glad.

⁷A good person cares about what happens to poor people. A wicked person does not want to know.

⁸People who mock and scorn stir up trouble for everyone. But wise people calm things down.

⁹When a wise person argues with a fool, nothing good happens. The fool will rage or laugh, but there is no peace.

¹⁰People who love violence hate those who do right. But just people protect and care for the upright.

¹¹A foolish person says everything they think right away. A wise person waits and thinks before they speak.

¹²A ruler who listens to lies will be surrounded by wicked people. Leaders shape what is around them.

¹³Poor people and dishonest people both live in this world. God gives eyesight and life to both of them.

¹⁴A king who judges poor people fairly will have a strong and lasting kingdom. Fairness builds lasting power.

¹⁵Correction and discipline teach children wisdom. A child never corrected will cause sadness and shame.

¹⁶When more wicked people get power, more wrong things happen. But the righteous will live to see them fall.

¹⁷Discipline your child, and they will grow up to bring you peace. A well-taught child is a deep joy.

¹⁸Where God's Word is not taught, people fall apart and go wrong. But the person who obeys God's law is truly happy.

¹⁹Some people will not change just because you tell them to. They hear the words but do not respond.

²⁰Do you see someone who speaks too fast without thinking? A foolish person has more hope than they do.

²¹If you always treat someone with too much softness and no correction, they will one day act like they own you.

²²An angry person causes fights everywhere they go. A furious person keeps doing wrong again and again.

²³Pride pulls a person down. But a humble spirit is lifted up and honoured.

²⁴Joining in with someone who steals is hurting yourself. You hear the curse that comes with it, and you share it.

²⁵Worrying too much about what people think is a trap. But trusting God keeps you safe.

²⁶Many people try to get the ruler's approval. But in the end, God is the true judge of every person.

²⁷Good people and wicked people cannot truly get along. Each finds the other deeply wrong.