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29One who is often reproved, yet remains stubborn,
   will suddenly be broken beyond healing.
² When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice;
   but when the wicked rule, the people groan.
³ A child who loves wisdom makes a parent glad,
   but to keep company with prostitutes is to squander one’s substance.
⁴ By justice a king gives stability to the land,
   but one who makes heavy exactions ruins it.
⁵ Whoever flatters a neighbour
   is spreading a net for the neighbour’s feet.
⁶ In the transgression of the evil there is a snare,
   but the righteous sing and rejoice.
⁷ The righteous know the rights of the poor;
   the wicked have no such understanding.
⁸ Scoffers set a city aflame,
   but the wise turn away wrath.
⁹ If the wise go to law with fools,
   there is ranting and ridicule without relief.
¹⁰ The bloodthirsty hate the blameless,
   and they seek the life of the upright.
¹¹ A fool gives full vent to anger,
   but the wise quietly holds it back.
¹² If a ruler listens to falsehood,
   all his officials will be wicked.
¹³ The poor and the oppressor have this in common:
   the Lord gives light to the eyes of both.
¹⁴ If a king judges the poor with equity,
   his throne will be established for ever.
¹⁵ The rod and reproof give wisdom,
   but a mother is disgraced by a neglected child.
¹⁶ When the wicked are in authority, transgression increases,
   but the righteous will look upon their downfall.
¹⁷ Discipline your children, and they will give you rest;
   they will give delight to your heart.
¹⁸ Where there is no prophecy, the people cast off restraint,
   but happy are those who keep the law.
¹⁹ By mere words servants are not disciplined,
   for though they understand, they will not give heed.
²⁰ Do you see someone who is hasty in speech?
   There is more hope for a fool than for anyone like that.
²¹ A slave pampered from childhood
   will come to a bad end.^*
22 One given to anger stirs up strife,
   and the hothead causes much transgression.
²³ A person’s pride will bring humiliation,
   but one who is lowly in spirit will obtain honour.
²⁴ To be a partner of a thief is to hate one’s own life;
   one hears the victim’s curse, but discloses nothing.^*
25 The fear of others^* lays a snare,
   but one who trusts in the Lord is secure.
²⁶ Many seek the favour of a ruler,
   but it is from the Lord that one gets justice.
²⁷ The unjust are an abomination to the righteous,
   but the upright are an abomination to the wicked.