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

Read full chapter

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

Read full chapter

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

Read full chapter

13 Kings take pleasure in honest lips;
    they value the one who speaks what is right.(A)

14 A king’s wrath is a messenger of death,(B)
    but the wise will appease it.(C)

15 When a king’s face brightens, it means life;(D)
    his favor is like a rain cloud in spring.(E)

Read full chapter

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

A king’s wrath strikes terror like the roar of a lion;(A)
    those who anger him forfeit their lives.(B)

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

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

Read full chapter

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

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

11 One who loves a pure heart and who speaks with grace
    will have the king for a friend.(A)

Read full chapter

Saying 6

29 Do you see someone skilled(A) in their work?
    They will serve(B) before kings;(C)
    they will not serve before officials of low rank.

Read full chapter

Saying 30

21 Fear the Lord and the king,(A) my son,
    and do not join with rebellious officials,
22 for those two will send sudden destruction(B) on them,
    and who knows what calamities they can bring?

Read full chapter

It is the glory of God to conceal a matter;
    to search out a matter is the glory of kings.(A)
As the heavens are high and the earth is deep,
    so the hearts of kings are unsearchable.

Read full chapter

Remove the dross from the silver,
    and a silversmith can produce a vessel;
remove wicked officials from the king’s presence,(A)
    and his throne will be established(B) through righteousness.(C)

Read full chapter

Do not exalt yourself in the king’s presence,
    and do not claim a place among his great men;
it is better for him to say to you, “Come up here,”(A)
    than for him to humiliate you before his nobles.

What you have seen with your eyes

Read full chapter

By justice a king gives a country stability,(A)
    but those who are greedy for[a] bribes tear it down.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 29:4 Or who give

14 If a king judges the poor with fairness,
    his throne will be established forever.(A)

Read full chapter

It is not for kings, Lemuel—
    it is not for kings to drink wine,(A)
    not for rulers to crave beer,
lest they drink(B) and forget what has been decreed,(C)
    and deprive all the oppressed of their rights.
Let beer be for those who are perishing,
    wine(D) for those who are in anguish!
Let them drink(E) and forget their poverty
    and remember their misery no more.

Read full chapter

Bible Gateway Recommends