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

Read full chapter

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

Read full chapter

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

Read full chapter

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

Read full chapter

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

Read full chapter

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

Read full chapter

Footnotes

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

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

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.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

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

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

Read full chapter

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

Read full chapter

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

Read full chapter

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

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 17:11 Or a merciless angel

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

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

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

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

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

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

Read full chapter

26 A wise king winnows out the wicked;
    he drives the threshing wheel over them.(A)

Read full chapter

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

Read full chapter

28 Love and faithfulness keep a king safe;
    through love(A) his throne is made secure.(B)

Read full chapter

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

Read full chapter

21 In the Lord’s hand the king’s heart is a stream of water
    that he channels toward all who please him.(A)

Read full chapter

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

Read full chapter