The Flourishing of the Righteous

The chapter opens by warning that stubborn resistance to repeated correction ends in sudden ruin. It then contrasts the joy brought by righteous flourishing with the groaning produced by wicked rule, connects wisdom and justice to stability, and shows how flattery, sin, disregard for the poor, and scorn all distort communal life while wise people work to calm it.

A¹ man who remains stiff-necked after much reproof ²When the righteous flourish, the people rejoice, ³A man who loves wisdom brings joy to his father, ⁴By justice a king brings stability to the land, ⁵A man who flatters his neighbor ⁶An evil man is caught by his own sin, ⁷The righteous consider the cause of the poor, ⁸Mockers inflame a city,

A wise man's dispute with a fool yields only rage or laughter without peace, while bloodthirsty men hate the blameless and the upright seek life. The sayings continue by contrasting unrestrained anger with patient restraint, warning rulers against listening to lies, and affirming that both poor and oppressor live under the LORD's light, especially when a king judges the poor with fairness.

⁹If a wise man goes to court with a fool, ¹⁰Men of bloodshed hate a blameless man, ¹¹A fool vents all his anger, ¹²If a ruler listens to lies, ¹³The poor man and the oppressor have this in common: ¹⁴A king who judges the poor with fairness—

Correction and discipline impart wisdom, but neglected children bring shame, and the increase of the wicked multiplies transgression even if the righteous will ultimately see their downfall. The cluster closes by urging discipline that gives parental rest and by warning that where revelatory guidance is absent people cast off restraint, while blessing belongs to those who keep God's instruction.

¹⁵A rod of correction imparts wisdom, ¹⁶When the wicked thrive, rebellion increases; ¹⁷Discipline your son, and he will give you rest; ¹⁸Where there is no vision, the people cast off restraint;

The final sayings warn that some people cannot be corrected by words alone, that hasty speech leaves little hope, and that indulgence can make servants troublesome in the end. They then show how anger breeds transgression, pride brings humiliation, complicity with theft destroys the soul, fear of man ensnares, and true justice comes not finally from rulers but from the LORD, leaving the righteous and wicked opposed in their loves.

¹⁹A servant cannot be corrected by words alone; ²⁰Do you see a man who speaks in haste? ²¹A servant pampered from his youth ²²An angry man stirs up dissension, ²³A man’s pride will bring him low, ²⁴A partner to a thief hates his own soul; ²⁵The fear of man is a snare, ²⁶Many seek the ruler’s favor, ²⁷An unjust man is detestable to the righteous,