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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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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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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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”

[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”

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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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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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)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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26 A (A)wise king scatters the wicked,
And [a]drives a (B)threshing wheel over them.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 20:26 Lit turns

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

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28 [a]Loyalty and (A)truth watch over the king,
And he upholds his throne by [b]loyalty.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 20:28 I.e., covenant loyalty
  2. Proverbs 20:28 I.e., covenant loyalty

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

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On Life and Conduct

21 The king’s heart is like channels of water in the hand of the Lord;
He (A)turns it wherever He pleases.

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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”