Proverbs 29
Big idea: The last chapter of the Hezekiah collection stays where chapter 28 was — kings, courts, the poor, a whole people rejoicing or groaning — and adds the household back in, with three verses on correcting a child set beside three on governing a nation. Verse 18 is the most quoted line in the collection and one of the most misquoted: 'where there is no vision, the people perish' is the King James wording, and the Hebrew is nearer 'no revelation' and 'cast off restraint'.
Chapter 28 watches a society under bad and good rule. Chapter 29 ends the Hezekiah collection; chapters 30 and 31 are two more voices entirely — Agur son of Jakeh, and the mother of King Lemuel.
29:1–14 — When the righteous thrive, the people rejoice
Fourteen couplets on public life, and most of them are about who holds power and how they hold it — a king who judges fairly, a king who takes bribes, a ruler who listens to lies, mockers who inflame a city, a wise man who cannot get a hearing in court. The run's frame is corporate: what happens to THE PEOPLE when each of these is in charge.
1 He who is often rebuked and stiffens his neck will be destroyed suddenly, with no remedy. 2 When the righteous thrive, the people rejoice; but when the wicked rule, the people groan. 3 Whoever loves wisdom brings joy to his father; but a companion of prostitutes squanders his wealth. 4 The king by justice makes the land stable, but he who takes bribes tears it down. 5 A man who flatters his neighbor spreads a net for his feet. 6 An evil man is snared by his sin, but the righteous can sing and be glad. 7 The righteous care about justice for the poor. The wicked aren’t concerned about knowledge. 8 Mockers stir up a city, but wise men turn away anger. 9 If a wise man goes to court with a foolish man, the fool rages or scoffs, and there is no peace. 10 The bloodthirsty hate a man of integrity; and they seek the life of the upright. 11 A fool vents all of his anger, but a wise man brings himself under control. 12 If a ruler listens to lies, all of his officials are wicked. 13 The poor man and the oppressor have this in common: Yahweh gives sight to the eyes of both. 14 The king who fairly judges the poor, his throne shall be established forever.
29:15–27 — Where there is no revelation
The Hezekiah collection ends by putting the household and the nation in the same run — a child left to himself, a servant who cannot be corrected by words, and between them the line about a people who cast off restraint. The last verse is a flat statement of mutual incompatibility, which is an unusually bleak place for a collection to stop.
15 The rod of correction gives wisdom, but a child left to himself causes shame to his mother. 16 When the wicked increase, sin increases; but the righteous will see their downfall. 17 Correct your son, and he will give you peace; yes, he will bring delight to your soul. 18 Where there is no revelation, the people cast off restraint; but one who keeps the law is blessed. 19 A servant can’t be corrected by words. Though he understands, yet 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 youth will have him become a son in the end. 22 An angry man stirs up strife, and a wrathful man abounds in sin. 23 A man’s pride brings him low, but one of lowly spirit gains honor. 24 Whoever is an accomplice of a thief is an enemy of his own soul. He takes an oath, but dares not testify. 25 The fear of man proves to be a snare, but whoever puts his trust in Yahweh is kept safe. 26 Many seek the ruler’s favor, but a man’s justice comes from Yahweh. 27 A dishonest man detests the righteous, and the upright in their ways detest the wicked.
Scripture text: World English Bible (public domain).