Chapter Twenty-Nine

1–7. Against various forms of moral insensitivity and hardness of heart. 8–11. Against the passion for discord, bloodthirstiness, and irritability. 12–17. Exhortation to rulers for just and merciful rule, and to educators for serious and strict education of children. 18–23. Against wickedness, unbridled behavior, anger, and pride. 24–27. Against association with the wicked in their transgressions, against flattery: teaching of fear of God and piety.

Proverbs 29:1. A man who, being reproved, hardens his neck will suddenly be broken, and there is no healing for him. Proverbs 29:2. When the righteous flourish, the people rejoice; but when the wicked rule, the people groan. Proverbs 29:3. A man who loves wisdom brings joy to his father; but he who keeps company with harlots squanders his wealth. Proverbs 29:4. The king establishes the land by justice, but the one who loves gifts destroys it. Proverbs 29:5. A man who flatters his neighbor spreads a net for his feet. Proverbs 29:6. In the transgression of an evil man lies a snare for him, but the righteous sings and rejoices. Proverbs 29:7. The righteous cares diligently for the cause of the poor, but the wicked has no understanding of it. In v. 1 there is a condemnation of the deep impenitence of a man who heeds no reproof from any quarter—this so often condemned in the Pentateuch, a “stiffness of neck” (Exod 32:9; Deut 9:6 and others), cf. Prov 28:14. V. 2, see Prov 28:12. V. 3, see Prov 6:26. In vv. 4–7, a manifestation of moral hardening appears especially in injustice (vv. 4, 7) and flattery (v. 5).

Proverbs 29:8. Scoundrels set a city in turmoil, but the wise calm anger. Proverbs 29:9. If a wise man goes to law with a fool, the fool rages or laughs, and there is no peace. Proverbs 29:10. Bloodthirsty men hate the blameless, but the righteous seek his life. Proverbs 29:11. A fool vents all his anger, but a wise man holds it back. Here the discourse turns to manifestations of sin and human malice in life.

Proverbs 29:12. If a ruler listens to false words, all his servants become wicked. Proverbs 29:13. The poor and the rich meet together; the Lord gives light to the eyes of both. Proverbs 29:14. If a king judges the poor with truth, his throne will be established forever. Proverbs 29:15. The rod and rebuke give wisdom; but a child left to himself brings shame to his mother. Proverbs 29:16. When the wicked increase, transgression increases; but the righteous will see their fall. Proverbs 29:17. Correct your son, and he will bring you rest; he will bring delight to your soul. In vv. 12–14 the discourse continues with a depiction of social and, in part, political life; but in vv. 15 and 17 it speaks of the necessity of sound guardianship and proper establishment of the very foundation of social life—the education of children (cf. Prov 23:13).

Proverbs 29:18. Without a revelation from above the people are unrestrained, but blessed is he who keeps the law. Proverbs 29:19. A slave is not taught by words, for though he understands them, he does not obey. Proverbs 29:20. Have you seen someone hasty in their words? There is more hope for a fool than for him. Proverbs 29:21. If you pamper a slave from childhood, he will later want to be treated as a son. Proverbs 29:22. An angry man stirs up discord, and a hot-tempered man commits many sins. Proverbs 29:23. Pride brings a man low, but the humble in spirit gain honor. V. 18 affirms the necessity of a living prophetic word in explaining and protecting the law; the poverty of such a word, and still more its complete absence in certain times (cf. 1 Sam 3:1; Hos 3:4; Amos 8:12; Ps 73:9) is accompanied by a decline of true religion and morality among the people (cf. Exod 32:25). V. 19 concludes the application of Old Testament pedagogy with its physical measures of influence to the system of relations between masters and slaves. V. 20, see Prov 26:12. V. 21 supplements the thought of v. 19, cf. Sir 33:21. V. 22, see Prov 15:18. V. 23, see Prov 15:33.

Proverbs 29:24. Whoever shares with a thief hates his own soul; he hears the curse but does not tell. Proverbs 29:25. Fear of people brings a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord is safe. Proverbs 29:26. Many seek the favor of the ruler, but a person’s lot comes from the Lord. Proverbs 29:27. An abomination to the righteous is the unjust man, and an abomination to the wicked is the one who walks in uprightness. Reproducing and deepening the demands of the law, the Wise Man urges (v. 24) his listeners to avoid in every way any association with the wicked in their transgressions, even by merely concealing them (cf. Lev 5:1). Such concealment may be prompted by flattery and fear of people (v. 25); but for a believer and pious person, according to the teaching of the Wise Man, the highest concern must be the sense of fear of God (v. 25a), and it is only from God, as the perfectly just Judge, that a person should seek truth and righteousness (v. 26). The chapter (XXIX) concludes, together with the entire group of Proverbs in chaps. XXV-XXIX, with a thought of the deep moral opposition and complete separation and estrangement of the righteous and the wicked (v. 27, see Prov 11:20).