Add parallel Print Page Options

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

Read full chapter

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

Read full chapter

35 The king approves the wise servant,
    but he is angry at anyone who acts shamefully.

Read full chapter

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

Read full chapter

10 When a king is ready to speak officially,[a]
    what he says should not err with respect to justice.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 16:10 Lit. king speaks an oracle

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

Read full chapter

12 Kings detest wrongdoing,
    for through righteousness the throne is established.
13 Kings take pleasure in righteous speech;
    they treasure a person who speaks what is upright.
14 The king’s wrath results in a death sentence,
    but whoever is wise will appease him.
15 When a king is pleased,[a] there is life,
    and his favor is like a cloud that brings spring rain.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 16:15 Lit. a king’s face lightens

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.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

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

Appropriate speech is inconsistent with the fool;
    how much more are deceitful statements[a] with a prince!

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 17:7 Lit. lips

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

Read full chapter

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 A rebellious person seeks evil;
    a cruel emissary will be sent to oppose him.

Read full chapter

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

Read full chapter

12 The king’s anger is like the roaring of a lion,
    but his goodwill is like dew on the grass.

Read full chapter

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

Read full chapter

A king’s anger is like a lion’s roar;
    anyone who angers him forfeits his life.

Read full chapter

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

Read full chapter

Footnotes

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

A king sits on a throne of justice,
    sifting out all sorts of evil with his glance.

Read full chapter

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

Read full chapter

26 A wise king sifts the wicked,
    crushing them with the threshing wheel.

Read full chapter

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

Read full chapter

28 Gracious love and truth preserve a king;
    through love his throne is made secure.

Read full chapter

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

Read full chapter

Thoughts on the Sovereignty of God

21 A king’s heart is a water stream that the Lord controls;
he directs it wherever he pleases.

Read full chapter

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

Read full chapter

Footnotes

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