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

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

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

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35 The king approves the wise servant,
    but he is angry at anyone 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. 16:10 Or A divination is on the lips of a king

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

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Footnotes

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

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 person appeases it.(A)

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

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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.

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Footnotes

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

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 king’s anger is like the roaring of a lion,
    but his goodwill 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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A king’s anger is like a lion’s roar;
    anyone who angers him forfeits his life.

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

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

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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 sifts the wicked,
    crushing them with the threshing wheel.

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

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

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

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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.

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11 The one who loves a pure heart
and gracious lips—the king is his friend.(A)

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11 Whoever loves purity[a] and gracious speech
    will gain the king as his friend.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 22:11 Lit. purity of heart

29 Do you see a person skilled in his work?
He will stand in the presence of kings.
He will not stand in the presence of the unknown.(A)

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29 Do you see a man skilled in his work?
    He will work for kings, not unimportant people.

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