Old Testament

Proverbs 29

Authority, Correction, and the Fear of God

11 passages

Overview

Through a sustained series of proverbs on righteous leadership, parental discipline, the dangers of pride and moral stubbornness, and the choice between fearing God and fearing man, this chapter presents a coherent vision of how ordered souls, families, and societies either flourish under wisdom or unravel under corruption.

Passages

1The Stiffened Neck: The Mortal Danger of Rejecting Correction 2–4Righteous Leadership and the Flourishing of Society 5–7Flattery, Sin, and the Righteous Care for the Poor 8–10Mockers, Fools, and the Integrity of the Wise 11–12The Fool's Fury and the Corrupt Court: Self-Mastery and the Poison of Lies in Authority 13–14The LORD's Light in Every Eye: Providence and the King's Justice 15–17The Rod and the Root: Discipline as an Act of Love 18–19Revelation, Law, and the Limits of Mere Words 20–21Rashness in Speech and Indulgence of Servants 22–24Anger, Pride, and Complicity in Evil 25–27Fear of God versus Fear of Man, and the Final Moral Divide

Study Resources

No study guides, devotionals, or teaching outlines have been created for this chapter yet.

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: Yahweh 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 Yahweh is kept safe.

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

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

Proverbs 28 Proverbs 30