28 A large population is a king’s splendor,
but a shortage of people is a ruler’s devastation.

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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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35 A king favors a wise servant,(A)
but his anger falls on a disgraceful one.

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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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10 God’s verdict is on the lips of a king;[a](A)
his mouth should not give an unfair judgment.(B)

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 16:10 Or A divination is on the lips of a king

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

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12 Wicked behavior[a] is detestable to kings,(A)
since a throne is established through righteousness.(B)

13 Righteous lips are a king’s delight,
and he loves one who speaks honestly.

14 A king’s fury is a messenger of death,
but a wise man appeases it.(C)

15 When a king’s face lights up, there is life;
his favor is like a cloud with spring rain.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 16:12 Either the king’s or someone else’s behavior

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”

Eloquent words are not appropriate on a fool’s lips;
how much worse are lies for a ruler.

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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”

11 An evil man seeks only rebellion;
a cruel messenger[a](A) will be sent against him.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 17:11 Or a merciless angel

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

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

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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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A king’s terrible wrath is like the roaring of a lion;
anyone who provokes him endangers himself.(A)

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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 sitting on a throne to judge
sifts out all evil with his eyes.(A)

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

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26 A wise king separates out the wicked(A)
and drives the threshing wheel(B) over them.

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26 A wise king winnows the wicked,
    and he will drive a wheel over them.

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28 Loyalty and faithfulness deliver a king;
through loyalty he maintains his throne.

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28 Loyalty and faithfulness will preserve a king,
    and he is upheld with the righteousness of his throne.

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21 A king’s heart is like streams of water in the Lord’s hand:
He directs it wherever He chooses.(A)

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21 Streams of water are the heart[a] of a king in the hand of Yahweh;
    wherever[b] he will desire, he will turn.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 21:1 Or “mind”
  2. Proverbs 21:1 Literally “upon all that”