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

Read full chapter

34 Righteousness exalts a nation,(A)
    but sin condemns any people.

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

Many curry favor with a ruler,(A)
    and everyone is the friend of one who gives gifts.(B)

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

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

Read full chapter

Further Sayings of the Wise

23 These also are sayings of the wise:(A)

To show partiality(B) in judging is not good:(C)
24 Whoever says to the guilty, “You are innocent,”(D)
    will be cursed by peoples and denounced by nations.
25 But it will go well with those who convict the guilty,
    and rich blessing will come on them.

Read full chapter

Surely I am only a brute, not a man;
    I do not have human understanding.
I have not learned wisdom,
    nor have I attained to the knowledge of the Holy One.(A)
Who has gone up(B) to heaven and come down?
    Whose hands(C) have gathered up the wind?
Who has wrapped up the waters(D) in a cloak?(E)
    Who has established all the ends of the earth?
What is his name,(F) and what is the name of his son?
    Surely you know!

“Every word of God is flawless;(G)
    he is a shield(H) to those who take refuge in him.

Read full chapter

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

Read full chapter

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.

Read full chapter

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

Read full chapter

Those who flatter their neighbors
    are spreading nets for their feet.(A)

Read full chapter

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

26 Many seek an audience with a ruler,(A)
    but it is from the Lord that one gets justice.(B)

Read full chapter

Bible Gateway Recommends