28 A large population is a king’s glory,
    but without subjects a prince is ruined.(A)

Read full chapter

35 A king delights in a wise servant,
    but a shameful servant arouses his fury.(A)

Read full chapter

10 The lips of a king speak as an oracle,
    and his mouth does not betray justice.(A)

Read full chapter

12 Kings detest wrongdoing,
    for a throne is established through righteousness.(A)

13 Kings take pleasure in honest lips;
    they value the one who speaks what is right.(B)

14 A king’s wrath is a messenger of death,(C)
    but the wise will appease it.(D)

15 When a king’s face brightens, it means life;(E)
    his favor is like a rain cloud in spring.(F)

Read full chapter

Eloquent lips are unsuited to a godless fool—
    how much worse lying lips to a ruler!(A)

Read full chapter

11 Evildoers foster rebellion against God;
    the messenger of death will be sent against them.

Read full chapter

12 A king’s rage is like the roar of a lion,(A)
    but his favor is like dew(B) on the grass.(C)

Read full chapter

A king’s wrath strikes terror like the roar of a lion;(A)
    those who anger him forfeit their lives.(B)

Read full chapter

When a king sits on his throne to judge,(A)
    he winnows out all evil with his eyes.(B)

Read full chapter

26 A wise king winnows out the wicked;
    he drives the threshing wheel over them.(A)

Read full chapter

28 Love and faithfulness keep a king safe;
    through love(A) his throne is made secure.(B)

Read full chapter

21 In the Lord’s hand the king’s heart is a stream of water
    that he channels toward all who please him.(A)

Read full chapter

11 One who loves a pure heart and who speaks with grace
    will have the king for a friend.(A)

Read full chapter

Saying 7

23 When you sit to dine with a ruler,
    note well what[a] is before you,
and put a knife to your throat
    if you are given to gluttony.
Do not crave his delicacies,(A)
    for that food is deceptive.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 23:1 Or who

Saying 30

21 Fear the Lord and the king,(A) my son,
    and do not join with rebellious officials,
22 for those two will send sudden destruction(B) on them,
    and who knows what calamities they can bring?

Read full chapter

It is the glory of God to conceal a matter;
    to search out a matter is the glory of kings.(A)
As the heavens are high and the earth is deep,
    so the hearts of kings are unsearchable.

Remove the dross from the silver,
    and a silversmith can produce a vessel;
remove wicked officials from the king’s presence,(B)
    and his throne will be established(C) through righteousness.(D)

Do not exalt yourself in the king’s presence,
    and do not claim a place among his great men;
it is better for him to say to you, “Come up here,”(E)
    than for him to humiliate you before his nobles.

What you have seen with your eyes

Read full chapter

When a country is rebellious, it has many rulers,
    but a ruler with discernment and knowledge maintains order.

A ruler[a] who oppresses the poor
    is like a driving rain that leaves no crops.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 28:3 Or A poor person

15 Like a roaring lion or a charging bear
    is a wicked ruler over a helpless people.

16 A tyrannical ruler practices extortion,
    but one who hates ill-gotten gain will enjoy a long reign.

Read full chapter

By justice a king gives a country stability,(A)
    but those who are greedy for[a] bribes tear it down.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 29:4 Or who give

12 If a ruler(A) listens to lies,
    all his officials become wicked.(B)

Read full chapter

14 If a king judges the poor with fairness,
    his throne will be established forever.(A)

Read full chapter

Bible Gateway Recommends