chapter29
Hardening neck
He, that being often reproved hardeneth his neck, shall suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy (Proverbs 29:1).
This verse is applicable not only to the children of the world but also to the children of the kingdom. Many children of God harden their hearts without accepting the truth or without rejecting the false doctrines. Their spiritual death comes suddenly and they fall without remedy. Children of God also face physical death as divine judgment when they disobey God. When a minister of God has failed to heed to the repeated warnings of God and continues to do his ministry in a stereotype manner against His perfect will, especially of the Levitical ministry of the Old Covenant, or when God finds a minister of God not further useful in the ministry, God deems it fit to call him home.
Righteous and wicked in rule
When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice: but when the wicked beareth rule, the people mourn (Proverbs 29:2).
When a righteous ruler is in authority, the people rejoice but when a wicked ruler bears rule, the people mourn. The people under the reign of the wicked ruler suffer unemployment, price rise, spurt in crimes, etc.
Company with harlots
Whoso loveth wisdom rejoiceth his father: but he that keepeth company with harlots spendeth his substance (Proverbs 29:3).
A son or a daughter who leads a moral and righteous life in Christ Jesus loves wisdom brings happiness to the heart of his or her father. But one who leads an immoral life keeping company with harlots spends the substance of the father. The substance of the father means his reputation or his being in good standing in the society.
King and judgment
The king by judgment establisheth the land: but he that receiveth gifts overthroweth it (Proverbs 29:4).
A nation has to be run on the principle of judgment. His judgment has to be righteous, fair and just. The land rejoices when the people receive justice from their ruler.
A ruler who perverts justice by receiving bribe overthrows the whole nation. Nowadays, rulers receive bribe from business houses to help them win elections. Such a ruler overthrows the whole nation. A nation which is not established on the foundation of righteousness does not flourish economically and morally.
Flattering neighbour
A man that flattereth his neighbour spreadeth a net for his feet (Proverbs 29:5).
A man who flatters his neighbour spreads a net for his feet. Flattery puts your neighbour in a net for his feet because he becomes proud on hearing the flattery.
Transgression of evil man
In the transgression of an evil man there is a snare: but the righteous doth sing and rejoice (Proverbs 29:6).
An evil man transgresses the law of God and falls into a snare. When the law of God is broken, then there comes a punishment. But a righteous man sings and rejoices because he follows the law of God strictly.
Righteous and wicked
The righteous considereth the cause of the poor: but the wicked regardeth not to know it (Proverbs 29:7).
A righteous person sitting in judgment in fact has a heart to consider the cause of the poor and dispenses justice to the latter because his heart is filled with compassion for the poor. He does not consider only the hard evidence before him for arriving at his judgment but also all the circumstantial evidence that goes in favour of the poor. But a wicked person sitting in judgement does not do justice to the poor on merit but tilts his judgment scale in favour of the mighty or the rich people.
Scornful men and wise men
Scornful men bring a city into a snare: but wise men turn away wrath (Proverbs 29:8).
A city is guarded by its inhabitants who lead a moral life. Scornful or contemptuous men are those who despise or deride others, especially those in authority. They have no respect for the divine law. God's wrath is poured on that city. But wise men living in the city, the people of God, turn away the wrath of God by their prayer and godly life.
Wise man and foolish man
If a wise man contendeth with a foolish man, whether he rage or laugh, there is no rest (Proverbs 29:9).
A wise man who knows God should not contend with a foolish man, in order to convince him of his folly and wickedness, of his errors and mistakes. Whether the fool is angry with the wise man, and rages at him and abuses him, there will be no end to the strife. There is no use arguing with a foolish man. Just avoid him.
Bloodthirsty and just
The bloodthirsty hate the upright: but the just seek his soul (Proverbs 29:10).
A bloodthirsty person hates the upright. A person who wants to take revenge upon a honest and upright person without any cause is thirsty of blood of the upright person. But the just person who is made righteous by the blood of Jesus seeks the soul of the upright person. There are many upright persons in our midst. They are being hunted down by the bloodthirsty. The righteous people should seek to help them.
Fool and wise man
A fool uttereth all his mind: but a wise man keepeth it in till afterwards (Proverbs 29:11).
A fool is one who utters all his mind. Proverbs describe a fool in many ways. But a wise man, keeps it back and stills it. Do not reveal whatever in your mind at one go. A wise man keeps his secrets.
Ruler hearkening to lies
If a ruler hearken to lies, all his servants are wicked (Proverbs 29:12).
Government servants or public servants become wicked when they hearken to the lies of the ruler concerned. They believe in lies or fake news spread by the ruler and start exploiting the people. All the servants would become wicked in due course if they start implementing the orders of the ruler concerned. When a fake news is planted among the people by the ruler through His servants, the people start believing it and act accordingly.
Poor and deceitful
The poor and the deceitful man meet together: the Lord lighteneth both their eyes (Proverbs 29:13).
When the poor and the deceitful man meet together, the Lord does gives light to both their eyes. The poor can see clearly the evil designs of the deceitful man. At the same time, the deceitful man can also clearly the weakness of the poor. Both of them earn their livelihood. However, God judges the deceitful man later. We cannot fathom the wisdom of God when He allows the deceitful man to deceive the poor.
King's throne
The king that faithfully judgeth the poor, his throne shall be established for ever (Proverbs 29:14).
The throne of a king is established for ever when he judges the poor faithfully. If a ruler does not give justice to the poor, then his kingdom will come to an end.
Rod and reproof
The rod and reproof give wisdom: but a child left to himself bringeth his mother to shame (Proverbs 29:15).
The rod and rebuke give wisdom, But a child left to himself brings shame to his mother.
Other cross references in the Proverbs are given below.
Proverbs 10:1
The proverbs of Solomon: A wise son brings joy to his father, but a foolish son grief to his mother.
Proverbs 13:24
He who spares the rod hates his son, but he who loves him disciplines him diligently.
Proverbs 17:25
A foolish son brings grief to his father and bitterness to her who bore him.
Proverbs 19:18
Discipline your son, for in that there is hope; do not be party to his death.
Proverbs 22:15
Foolishness is bound up in the heart of a child, but the rod of discipline will drive it far from him.
Proverbs 29:17
Discipline your son, and he will give you rest; he will bring delight to your soul.
Wicked and transgression
When the wicked are multiplied, transgression increaseth: but the righteous shall see their fall (Proverbs 29:16).
When the wicked increase, transgression increases; But the righteous will see their fall. When the wicked people increase in number in a nation, sin increases. But when the righteous people pray and lead righteous lives, the downfall of the wicked and their ruler will be certain.
Cross reference in Proverbs 21:12
The Righteous One considers the house of the wicked; He brings the wicked to ruin.
Correcting son
Correct thy son, and he shall give thee rest; yea, he shall give delight unto thy soul (Proverbs 29:17).
Discipline your son, and he will give you rest; he will give delight to your heart. Nowadays, many children of God have no rest in their souls because of their wayward sons. They have failed to correct their sons as they were given a free hand to do whatever they liked.
Cross references are given below
Proverbs 10:1
The proverbs of Solomon: A wise son brings joy to his father, but a foolish son grief to his mother.
Proverbs 13:24
He who spares the rod hates his son, but he who loves him disciplines him diligently.
Proverbs 19:18
Discipline your son, for in that there is hope; do not be party to his death.
Proverbs 29:15
A rod of correction imparts wisdom, but a child left to himself disgraces his mother.
Without vision, people perish
Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he.
(Hosea 4:6, Amos 8:11-12)
Nowadays, there is no vision among the people of God as they follow men-made traditions and leaders who lead them astray. They do not have ears to hear what the Holy Spirit tells them. Children of God die spiritually. Their spiritual death is caused by lack of vision. They have no vision what they have to do in God's vineyard. They are themselves blind. They are led by blind leaders who teach them false doctrines.
But, he who keeps the law is happy. For us, the law means the New Covenant that came through Jesus Christ. We should keep what the Lord taught us on the Mount. We should follow what the early apostles taught us.
Correcting servant
A servant will not be corrected by words: for though he understand he will not answer (Proverbs 29:19).
A servant will not be corrected by mere words; For though he understands, he will not respond. A servant needs to be taught fear of punishment, He needs to be subject to severer measures of punishment than oral warning for his correction. Conduct rules in an organization are meant to enforce discipline among them.
Hasty in words
Seest thou a man that is hasty in his words? there is more hope of a fool than of him (Proverbs 29:20).
Do you see a man hasty in his words? There is more hope for a fool than for him.
The fool is a dull, self-satisfied person. As explained earlier, Proverbs describes the person of a fool in many ways. He is self-confident, and neither considers things seriously within himself, nor seeks counsel from the wise.
Servant and son
He that delicately bringeth up his servant from a child shall have him become his son at the length (Proverbs 29:21).
He who pampers his servant from childhood will have him as a son in the end. The pampered servant will end by claiming the privileges of a son, and perhaps ousting the legitimate children from their inheritance.
In a democracy where the government is of the people, by the people and for the people, the people become the owners of the government. The government servants need to be disciplined since the time of their joining the government services and should not be pampered by the ruler. Nowadays, the pampered government servants have become corrupt depriving the citizens of their legitimate rights and appropriating the money meant for the people. They are no longer the servants but the children.
Angry man and strife
An angry man stirreth up strife, and a furious man aboundeth in transgression (Proverbs 29:20).
An angry person stirs up strife, and a hot-tempered person commits many sins.
A strife erupts only when some people get angry.. If people in a dispute amicably settle it without anger, then there will be peace. Justice will prevail.
A furious man is responsible for transgression or sin by many. He himself looses his peace and uses his tongue in abusing others. His fury as a sparkle ignites the fury of others. Many people commit sins.
Man's pride
A man's pride shall bring him low: but honour shall uphold the humble in spirit (Proverbs 29:23). Pride brings down a man but honour upholds the humble in spirit.
Luke 14:11, James 4:10 may also be read.
Cross references
Proverbs 11:2
When pride comes, disgrace follows, but with humility comes wisdom.
Proverbs 15:33
The fear of the LORD is the instruction of wisdom, and humility comes before honor.
Proverbs 16:18
Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.
Proverbs 16:19
It is better to be lowly in spirit among the humble than to divide the spoil with the proud.
Proverbs 17:19
He who loves transgression loves strife; he who builds his gate high invites destruction.
Proverbs 18:12
Before his downfall a man's heart is proud, but humility comes before honor.
Proverbs 22:4
The rewards of humility and the fear of the LORD are wealth and honor and life.
Partner with thief
Whoso is partner with a thief hateth his own soul: he heareth cursing, and bewrayeth it not (Proverbs 29:24).
Do not have any partnership with someone who is a thief or who does an illegal or unethical business. It will be self-suicidal for one to have partnership with another who is corrupt or covets other's money or possession. He will not testify under oath. He will be forced to indulge in illegal things to save the partnership even under a legal oath.
Fear of man and trust in God
The fear of man bringeth a snare: but whoso putteth his trust in the Lord shall be safe (Proverbs 29:25).
Do not fear a man but the Lord. If you have the fear of the man, you will fall into a snare because you will be compelled to do illegal or immoral things. If you put your trust in the Lord, you will do honest things which are good in the eyes of God. You will be safe under His wings.
Seeking ruler's favour
Many seek the ruler's favour; but every man's judgment cometh from the Lord (Proverbs 29:26).
Many people seek the ruler's favour but justice comes from the Lord. The Lord uses the ruler to give His judgment. The laws of the land are founded on the divine law.
Unjust man
An unjust man is an abomination to the just: and he that is upright in the way is abomination to the wicked (Proverbs 29:27).
An unjust person who deals with a just person throwing justice to the wind is an abomination to the just person who does not get justice. One who is upright in the way is an abomination to the wicked. The wicked does not get what he desires from the upright person or the upright judge. As such, the upright is a terror to the wicked who considers this as an abomination to him.
Next......Chapter 30