28 In a multitude of people is a king’s glory,
But in the scarcity of people is a prince’s ruin.

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28 In the multitude of people is the glory of the king,
    but without a population, a prince is ruined.

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

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35 The king’s favor is toward a (A)servant who acts wisely,
But his anger is toward him who acts shamefully.

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35 The favor of a king is for the servant who deals wisely,
    but his wrath will be on him who acts shamefully.

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

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10 A divine (A)verdict is on the lips of the king;
His mouth should not [a]err in judgment.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 16:10 Lit be unfaithful

10 A decision is upon the lips of a king;
    in judgment his mouth will not sin.

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

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12 It is an abomination for kings to commit wicked acts,
Because a (A)throne is established on righteousness.
13 Righteous lips are the delight of kings,
And one who speaks right is loved.
14 The fury of a king is like messengers of death;
But a wise person will appease it.
15 In the light of a king’s face is life,
And his favor is like a cloud with the [a](B)spring rain.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 16:15 Lit latter

12 An abomination to kings is doing evil,
    for by righteousness the throne will be established.
13 The delight of kings are the lips of righteousness,
    and he who speaks what is upright he will love.
14 The wrath of a king is a messenger of death,
    but one who is wise will appease[a] it.
15 In the light of the face of the king there is life,
    and his favor is like a cloud of spring rain.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 16:14 Or “atone, cover over”

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)

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[a](A)Excellent speech is not fitting for a fool,
Much less are (B)lying lips to a prince.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 17:7 Lit A lip of abundance

Fine speech[a] is not becoming a fool,
    still less[b] is false speech[c] for a ruler.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 17:7 Literally “A lip of fineness
  2. Proverbs 17:7 Literally “only for”
  3. Proverbs 17:7 Literally “lip of deceit”

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

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11 A rebellious person seeks only evil,
So a cruel messenger will be sent against him.

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11 An evil person will seek only rebellion,
    and a cruel messenger will be sent against him.

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

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12 A (A)king’s wrath is like the roaring of a lion,
But his favor is like (B)dew on the grass.

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12 The rage of a king growls like a lion,
    but his favor is like dew on the grass.

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

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The terror of a king is like the roaring of a lion;
One who provokes him to anger [a](A)forfeits his own life.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 20:2 Lit sins against

Roaring like the lion is the dreaded anger of a king;
    he who provokes him forfeits his life.[a]

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 20:2 Or “soul,” or “inner self”

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

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(A)A king who sits on the throne of justice
[a]Disperses all evil with his eyes.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 20:8 Or Sifts

A king who sits on the throne of judgment
    winnows all evil with his eyes.

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

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