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 The glory of a king is a multitude of people;
    without people 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 A servant who deals wisely has the king’s favor,
    but his wrath falls on one who acts shamefully.(A)

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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 Inspired decisions are on the lips of a king;
    his mouth does not sin in judgment.

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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](A)spring rain.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 16:15 Lit latter

13 Righteous lips are the delight of a king,
    and he loves those who speak what is right.(A)
14 A king’s wrath is a messenger of death,
    and whoever is wise will appease it.(B)
15 In the light of a king’s face there is life,
    and his favor is like the clouds that bring the spring rain.(C)

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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 A king’s anger is like the growling of a lion,
    but his favor is like dew on the grass.(A)

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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

The dread anger of a king is like the growling of a lion;
    anyone who provokes him to anger forfeits life itself.(A)

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(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 drives the 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 preserve the king,
    and his throne is upheld by righteousness.[a](A)

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Footnotes

  1. 20.28 Gk: Heb loyalty

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 The king’s heart is a stream of water in the hand of the Lord;
    he turns it wherever he will.

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11 One who loves (A)purity of heart
And [a]whose speech is (B)gracious, the king is his friend.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 22:11 Lit has grace on his lips

11 Those who love a pure heart and are gracious in speech
    will have the king as a friend.(A)

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29 Do you see a person skilled in his work?
He will (A)stand before kings;
He will not stand before obscure people.

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29 Do you see those who are skillful in their work?
    They will serve kings;
    they will not serve common people.(A)

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