CHAPTER 29 Apr. 19 
Consequences of Bad Government
He who is often rebuked and stiffens his neck will be destroyed suddenly, with no remedy. 2When the righteous thrive, the people rejoice; but when the wicked rule, the people groan. 3Whoever loves wisdom brings joy to his father; but a companion of prostitutes squanders his wealth. 4The king by justice makes the land stable, but he who takes bribes tears it down. 5A man who flatters his neighbour spreads a net for his own feet. 6An evil man is snared by his sin, but the righteous can sing and rejoice. 7The righteous care about justice for the poor; the wicked aren’t concerned about knowledge. 8Mockers stir up a city, but wise men turn away anger. 9If a wise man goes to court with a foolish man, the fool rages or scoffs, and there is no peace. 10The bloodthirsty hate a man of integrity; and they seek the life of the upright. 11A fool vents all of his anger, but a wise man brings himself under control. 12If a ruler listens to lies, all of his officials are wicked. 13The poor man and the oppressor have this in common: Yahweh gives sight to the eyes of both. 14The king who fairly judges the poor, his throne shall be established forever.

The Value of Correction
15The rod of correction gives wisdom, but a child left to himself causes shame to his mother. 16When the wicked increase, sin increases; but the righteous will see their downfall. 17Correct your son, and he will give you peace; yes, he will bring delight to your soul. 18Where there is no Divine revelation, the people cast off restraint; but one who keeps the law is blessed. 19A servant can’t be corrected by words; alhough he understands, yet he will not respond. 20Do you see a man hasty in his words? There is more hope for a fool than for him. 21He who pampers his servant from youth will have him become a son in the end. 22An angry man stirs up strife, and a wrathful man abounds in sin. 23A man’s pride brings him low, but one of lowly spirit gains honour. 24Whoever is an accomplice of a thief is an enemy of his own soul; he takes an oath, but dares not testify. 25The fear of man proves to be a snare, but whoever puts his trust in Yahweh is kept safe. 26Many seek the ruler’s favour, but a man’s justice comes from Yahweh. 27A dishonest man detests the righteous, and the upright in their ways detest the wicked. 

Commentary

29:7 This sounds like a reference to the way Solomon judged the two prostitutes. See on 25:5.
29:14 Solomon is clearly referring to the promises to David, which he assumed were about him. He thought that because he had judged the poor harlots wisely, therefore he would be the promised Messiah. And this was just what David his father had hoped and expected of him. David had even asked Solomon to “do wisely” i.e. to show wisdom, in order that the promises to him about Messiah would be fulfilled (1 Kings 2:3). So this was surely one of Solomon’s motives in giving them justice and being ‘wise’; he sought to live out his father’s expectations and to fulfil the requirements of the Messiah figure. Solomon uses language elsewhere used about Messiah’s final judgment and applies it to himself in 20:26). He felt that his judgment must be that of God, therefore he had to be right, because he ‘had wisdom’, he ‘had the truth’; he assumed that because he was the king, therefore his heart would inevitably be guided by the Lord (21:1). Those raised in wisdom’s way often find it very hard to take criticism in later life. They find tolerance of others’ views hard; they perceive themselves to be right to an intolerant extent. Is this not a little bit of the Solomon syndrome?