Proverbs Chapter 29 to 31 : Easy-to-Read Version
29 If a person is stubborn and becomes more angry every time people tell him that he is doing wrong, then that person will be destroyed. There is no hope. 2When the ruler is a good person, then all the people are happy. But when an evil person rules, then all the people complain. 3If a person loves wisdom, then his father is very happy. But if a person wastes his money on prostitutes,* then he will lose his wealth. 4If a king is fair, then the nation will be strong. But if a king is selfish and people must pay him to do things for them, then the nation will be weak. 5If a person tries to get what he wants by saying nice things to people, then he is only setting a trap for himself. 6Evil people are defeated by their own sin. But a good person can sing and be happy. 7Good people want to do the right thing for poor people. But evil people don’t care. 8People who think they are better than other people can cause much trouble. They can put whole cities into confusion. But people who are wise make peace. 9If a wise person tries to settle a problem with a fool, then the fool will argue and say stupid things. And the two people will never agree. 10Murderers always hate honest people. Those evil people want to kill good, honest people.* 11A foolish person becomes angry easily. But a wise person is patient and controls himself. 12If a ruler listens to lies, then all his officials will be evil. 13In one way a poor person and the person who steals from the poor are the same: The Lord made them both. 14If a king is fair to poor people he will rule for a long time. 15Spankings and teachings are good for children. If parents let a child do whatever he wants, then he will bring shame to his mother. 16If evil people are ruling the nation, then sin will be everywhere. But good people will win in the end. 17Punish your son when he is wrong, then you will always be proud of him. He will never make you ashamed. 18If a nation is not guided by God, then that nation will not have peace. But the nation that obeys God’s law will be happy. 19A servant won’t learn a lesson if you only talk to him. That servant may understand your words but he won’t obey. 20If a person speaks without thinking, there is no hope for him. There is more hope for a fool than for the person who speaks without thinking. 21If you always give your servant everything he wants, then in the end he will not be a good servant. 22An angry person causes trouble. And the person who becomes angry easily is guilty of many sins. 23If a person thinks he is better than other people, then that will destroy him. But if a person is humble, then other people will respect him. 24Two thieves that work together are enemies. One thief will threaten the other one, so if he is forced to tell the truth in court, he will be too afraid to speak. 25Fear is like a trap. But if you trust in the Lord, you will be safe. 26Many people want to be the friends of a ruler. But the Lord is the One that judges people fairly. 27Good people hate those people who are not honest. And evil people hate people who are honest.
prostitute(s) A woman paid by men for sexual sin. Sometimes this also means a person who is not faithful to God and stops following him. Those evil people want to kill good, honest people Or “But a good, honest person saves his life.”
Wise Sayings of Agur Son of Jakeh
30 These are the wise sayings of Agur son of Jakeh. This is his message to Ithiel and Ucal:* 2I am the worst person on earth. I am not able to understand like I should. 3I have not learned to be wise. And I know nothing about God. 4No person has ever learned about the things from heaven. No person has ever caught the wind in his hand. No person has ever held water in a piece of cloth. No person can ever really know the limits of the earth. If any person can do these things, who is he? Where is his family? 5Every word that God says is perfect. God is a safe place for people who go to him. 6So, don’t try to change the things God says. If you do, he will punish you and prove that you tell lies. 7Lord, I ask you to do two things for me before I die. 8Don’t let me tell lies. And don’t make me too rich or too poor—only give me the things I need each day. 9If I have more than I need, then I will think I don’t need you. But if I am poor then I might steal. Then I will bring shame to the name of God. 10Never say bad things against a servant to his master. If you do, the master will not believe you. He will think you are guilty. 11Some people speak against their fathers. And they don’t show respect for their mothers. 12Some people think they are good but they are really very bad. 13Some people think they are very good. They think they are much better than other people. 14There are people whose teeth are like swords. Their jaws are like knives. They use their time to take everything they can from poor people. 15Some people want to take everything they can get. All they say is, “Give me, give me, give me.” There are three things that are never satisfied—really four things that never have enough: 16The place of death, a woman with no children, dry ground that needs rain, and a hot fire that can’t be stopped. 17Any person who makes fun of his father or refuses to obey his mother will be punished. It will be as bad for him as if his eyes were eaten by vultures and wild birds. 18There are three things that are hard for me to understand—really four things that I don’t understand: 19An eagle flying in the sky, a snake moving on a rock, a ship moving across the ocean, and a man in love with a woman. 20A woman who is not faithful to her husband acts like she has done nothing wrong. She eats, takes a bath, and says she has done nothing wrong. 21There are three things that make trouble on the earth—really four that the earth can’t bear: 22A servant that becomes a king, a foolish person that has everything he needs, 23a woman who is full of hate but still finds a husband, and a servant girl that becomes ruler over the woman she serves. 24There are four things on the earth that are small but very wise: 25Ants are small and weak, but they save their food all summer; 26a badger is a small animal, but it is able to make its home in the rocks; 27locusts have no king, but they are able to work together; 28lizards are small enough to catch with your hands but you can find them living in kings’ homes. 29There are three things that act important when they walk. In fact, there are four: 30A lion (He is the warrior of the animal kingdom. He runs from nothing.); 31a rooster walking proudly;* a goat; and a king among his people. 32If you are foolish enough to become proud and make plans against other people, then stop and think about what you are doing. 33If a person churns* milk, he makes butter. If a person hits another person’s nose, then blood will come. In the same way, if you make people angry you will cause trouble.
This is his message to Ithiel and Ucal Or “This man said, ‘I am too weak. I am too weak, but I will succeed!’” a rooster walking proudly Or possibly, “a greyhound” or “a warhorse.” churn(s) To stir cream for a long time until it becomes butter.
Wise Sayings of King Lemuel
31 These are the wise sayings of King Lemuel. His mother taught him these things. 2You are my son. The son that I love. You are the son that I prayed to have. 3Don’t waste your strength on women. Women destroy kings, so don’t waste yourself on them. 4Lemuel, it is not wise for kings to drink wine. It is not wise for rulers to want beer. 5They may drink too much and forget what the law says. Then they might take away all the rights of poor people. 6Give beer to the poor people. Give wine to those people who are in trouble. 7Let them drink and forget that they are poor. Let them forget all their troubles. 8{If a person can’t help himself, then you should help him.} Speak up for a person who can’t speak! Help people who are in trouble! 9Stand up for the things you know are right. And judge all people fairly. Protect the rights of poor people and people that need help.
The Perfect Wife
10* It is very hard to find “the perfect woman.”* But she is worth much more than jewels. 11Her husband depends on her. He will never be poor. 12She does good for her husband all her life. She never causes him trouble. 13She is always gathering wool and flax and gladly making things with her hands. 14She is like a ship from a faraway place. She brings food home from everywhere. 15She wakes very early in the morning. She cooks food for her family and gives the servants their share. 16She looks at land and buys it. She uses money she has earned and plants a vineyard. 17She works very hard. She is strong and able to do all her work. 18When she trades the things she has made, she always earns a profit. And she works until late at night. 19She makes her own thread and weaves her own cloth. 20She always gives to poor people and helps people that need it. 21She doesn’t worry about her family when it snows. She has given them all good, warm clothes. 22She makes sheets and spreads for the beds. And she wears clothes of fine linen. 23People respect her husband. He is one of the leaders of the land. 24She is a very good businesswoman. She makes clothes and belts, and sells them to businessmen. 25She is praised* and people respect her. She looks to the future with confidence. 26She speaks with wisdom. She teaches people to be loving and kind. 27She is never lazy. She takes care of the things in her house. 28Her children say good things about her. Her husband brags about her and says, 29“There are many good women. But you are the best.” 30Grace and beauty can fool you. But a woman who respects the Lord should be praised. 31Give her the reward she deserves. Praise her in public for the things she has done.
Verses 10-31 In Hebrew, each verse of this poem starts with the next letter of the alphabet, so this poem shows all the good qualities of a woman, “from A to Z”. the perfect woman Or, “a noble woman.” She is praised Or, “She is strong.”