1 Whoever is stubborn [stiff-necked] after being corrected many times will suddenly be hurt [broken] beyond cure [healing].
2 When good [righteous] people do well [or multiply; increase], everyone is [the people are] happy, but when evil people ·rule [dominate], everyone groans [the people groan/moan].
3 Those who love wisdom make their parents [father] happy, but friends of prostitutes waste their money [destroy riches].
4 If a king is fair [just], he makes his country strong [stable], but if he takes gifts dishonestly [heavily taxes/extorts it], he tears his country down [1 Sam. 12:10–18].
5 Those who give false praise to their neighbors [or friends] are setting a trap for them [trap/net for their feet].
6 Evil people are trapped by their own sin [offenses], but good [righteous] people can sing and be happy.
7 Good [Righteous] people care [know] about justice for [the rights of] the poor, but the wicked are not concerned [do not understand].
8 People who make fun of wisdom [Mockers] cause trouble in [inflame] a city, but wise people calm anger down [turn back anger].
9 When a wise person takes a foolish person to court [or debates/disputes a fool], the fool only shouts or laughs, and there is no peace [rest].
10 Murderers hate an honest [innocent; blameless] person and try to kill [seek the life of] those who do right [the virtuous].
11 Foolish people lose their tempers [or let nothing go unexpressed; let all their spirit out], but wise people control theirs [quiet things down afterward].
12 If a ruler pays attention to lies, all his officers [those who serve him] will become wicked [Ps. 101:6–8].
13 The poor person and the cruel person [oppressor] are alike in that the Lord gave light to the eyes of both of them.
14 If a king judges poor people fairly [in truth; reliably], his government [throne] will continue [be established] forever.
15 Correction and punishment [the rod] make children wise, but those left alone [unsupervised] will disgrace their mother.
16 When there are many wicked people, there is much sin [offense], but those who do right [the righteous] will see them destroyed [their downfall].
17 Correct [Instruct; Discipline] your children, and you will be proud [they will give you peace of mind]; they will give you satisfaction [delight].
18 Where there is no word from God [vision; prophecy], people are uncontrolled [the people perish], but those who obey what they have been taught [guard the law] are happy [blessed].
19 Words alone cannot correct [instruct] a servant, because even if they understand, they won’t respond.
20 Do you see people who speak too quickly [hastily]? There is more hope for a foolish person than for them.
21 If you spoil [pamper] your servants when they are young, they will bring you grief [trouble] later on.
22 An angry person causes trouble [stirs up conflict]; a person with a quick temper [wrath] sins a lot.
23 Pride will ruin people [cause people to fall], but those who are humble will be honored [a lowly spirit holds honor/glory tight].
24 Partners of [Those who divide plunder with] thieves are their own worst enemies [hate their lives/themselves]. If they have to testify in court [hear a curse], they are afraid to [do not] say anything.
25 Being afraid of [Anxiety about] people can get you into trouble [L is a trap], but if you trust the Lord, you will be safe [protected; Ps. 56:11; 1 John 4:18].
26 Many people want to speak to [an audience with] a ruler, but justice comes only from the Lord.
27 Good [Righteous] people hate [detest] those who are dishonest [the unjust], and the wicked hate [detest] those who are honest [the straight path]. — Proverbs 29 | Expanded Bible (EXB) The Expanded Bible, Copyright © 2011 Thomas Nelson Inc. All rights reserved. Cross References: Genesis 12:12; Leviticus 5:1; 1 Samuel 20:2; 1 Kings 12:14; 2 Chronicles 9:8; Ezra 9:8; Esther 8:15; Job 9:4; Job 29:16; Psalm 5:9; Psalm 37:34; Psalm 72:4; Proverbs 10:1; Proverbs 11:11; Proverbs 12:16; Proverbs 17:12; Proverbs 17:19; Ecclesiastes 9:12; Isaiah 49:4; Matthew 23:12; Luke 14:11; Luke 15:30; John 13:17; John 15:18; James 1:19; James 4:6; James 4:10; 1 John 3:12
