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 honor.
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 favor 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.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Proverbs 29:19-27
Commentary on Proverbs 29:19
(Read Proverbs 29:19)
Here is an unprofitable, slothful, wicked servant; one that serves not from conscience, or love, but from fear.
Commentary on Proverbs 29:20
(Read Proverbs 29:20)
When a man is self-conceited, rash, and given to wrangling, there is more hope of the ignorant and profligate.
Commentary on Proverbs 29:21
(Read Proverbs 29:21)
Good usage to a servant does not mean indulgence, which would ruin even a child. The body is a servant to the soul; those that humour it, and are over-tender of it, will find it forget its place.
Commentary on Proverbs 29:22
(Read Proverbs 29:22)
An angry, passionate disposition makes men provoking to one another, and provoking to God.
Commentary on Proverbs 29:23
(Read Proverbs 29:23)
Only those who humble themselves shall be exalted and established.
Commentary on Proverbs 29:24
(Read Proverbs 29:24)
The receiver is as bad as the thief.
Commentary on Proverbs 29:25
(Read Proverbs 29:25)
Many are ashamed to own Christ now; and he will not own them in the day of judgment. But he that trusts in the Lord will be saved from this snare.
Commentary on Proverbs 29:26
(Read Proverbs 29:26)
The wisest course is, to look to God, and seek the favour of the Ruler of rulers; for every creature is that to us which God makes it to be.
Commentary on Proverbs 29:27
(Read Proverbs 29:27)
The just man abhors the sins of the wicked, and shuns their company. Christ exposed the wickedness of men, yet prayed for the wicked when they were crucifying him. Hatred to sin in ourselves and others, is a needful branch of the Christian temper. But all that are unholy, have rooted hatred to godliness.