Proverbs 22:11
Expanded Bible
11 Whoever loves pure ·thoughts [L hearts] and kind ·words [L lips]
will have even the king as a friend.
Proverbs 22:11
Amplified Bible
11
He who loves purity of heart
And whose speech is gracious will have the king as his friend.
Proverbs 23:1-3
Expanded Bible
23 ·If [or When] you sit down to eat with a ruler,
notice ·the food that [L what] is in front of you.
2 ·Control yourself [L Place a knife at your throat]
·if you have a big [or to control your] appetite.
3 Don’t ·be greedy [long] for his fine foods,
because that food might be ·a trick [false; deceptive].
Proverbs 23:1-3
Amplified Bible
On Life and Conduct
23 When you sit down to dine with a ruler,
Consider carefully what is [set] before you;
2
For you will put a knife to your throat
If you are a man of great appetite.
3
Do not desire his delicacies,
For it is deceptive food [offered to you with questionable motives].
Proverbs 24:21-22
Expanded Bible
21 My ·child [L son], ·respect [fear] the Lord and the king.
Don’t join those people who ·refuse to obey them [rebel].
22 ·The Lord and the king [L They] will quickly destroy such people.
·Those two can cause great disaster! [L Who knows the disaster that both can bring?]
Proverbs 24:21-22
Amplified Bible
21
My son, fear the Lord and the king;
And do not associate with those who are given to change [of allegiance, and are revolutionary],
22
For their tragedy will rise suddenly,
And who knows the punishment that both [the Lord and the king] will bring on the rebellious?
Proverbs 25:2-7
Expanded Bible
2 ·God is honored for what he keeps secret [L It is the glory of God to hide a matter/things; Deut. 29:29].
·Kings are honored for what they can discover [L It is the glory of kings to examine them].
3 No one can ·measure [examine] the height of the skies or the depth of the earth.
So also no one can ·understand [examine] the ·mind [L heart] of a king.
4 ·Remove [Separate] the ·scum [dross] from the silver,
so ·the silver can be used by the silversmith [L a vessel will come out for refining].
5 ·Remove [Separate] wicked people from the king’s presence;
then his ·government [L throne] will be ·honest and last a long time [L established in righteousness].
6 Don’t ·brag [honor yourself] to the king
and ·act as if you are great [L don’t stand in the place of important people].
7 It is better for him to ·give you a higher position [L say to you, “Come up here”]
than to bring you down in front of the prince [Luke 14:7–11].
Because of something you have seen,
Proverbs 25:2-7
Amplified Bible
2
It is the glory of God to conceal a matter,
But the glory of kings is to search out a matter.(A)
3
As the heavens for height and the earth for depth,
So the hearts and minds of kings are [a]unsearchable.
4
Take away the dross from the silver,
And there comes out [the pure metal for] a vessel for the silversmith [to shape].(B)
5
Take away the wicked from before the king,
And his throne will be established in righteousness.
6
Do not be boastfully ambitious and claim honor in the presence of the king,
And do not stand in the place of great men;
7
For it is better that it be said to you, “Come up here,”
Than for you to be placed lower in the presence of the prince,
Whom your eyes have seen.(C)
Footnotes
- Proverbs 25:3 The ancient rabbis explained this as a reference to the countless details of government that are a king’s responsibility.
Proverbs 25:15
Expanded Bible
15 With patience you can convince a ruler,
and a ·gentle [tender] word ·can get through to the hard-headed [L breaks bone].
Proverbs 25:15
Amplified Bible
15
By patience and a calm spirit a ruler may be persuaded,
And a soft and gentle tongue breaks the bone [of resistance].(A)
Proverbs 28:2-3
Expanded Bible
2 When a country ·is lawless [or rebels; or transgresses], it has ·one ruler after another [or many rulers/leaders];
but when it is led by a ·leader [L person] with understanding, it ·continues strong [or has lasting order].
3 ·Rulers [or Poor people] who ·mistreat [oppress] the poor
are like a hard rain that ·destroys the crops [washes away the food].
Proverbs 28:2-3
Amplified Bible
2
When a land does wrong, it has many princes,
But when the ruler is a man of understanding and knowledge, its stability endures.
3
A poor man who oppresses and exploits the lowly
Is like a sweeping rain which leaves no food.(A)
Proverbs 28:15-16
Expanded Bible
15 A wicked ruler over poor people is
like a ·roaring [growling] lion or a ·charging [prowling] bear [C dangerous or frightening].
16 A ·ruler [prince] without ·wisdom [understanding] will be cruel,
but the one who ·refuses to take [hates] ·dishonest money [unjust gain/profit] will ·rule [or live] a long time.
Proverbs 28:15-16
Amplified Bible
15
Like a roaring lion and a charging bear
Is a wicked ruler over a poor people.
16
A leader who is a great oppressor lacks understanding and common sense [and his wickedness shortens his days],
But he who hates unjust gain will [be blessed and] prolong his days.
Proverbs 29:4
Expanded Bible
4 If a king is ·fair [just], he makes his country ·strong [stable],
but if he ·takes gifts dishonestly [heavily taxes/extorts it], he tears his country down [1 Sam. 12:10–18].
Proverbs 29:4
Amplified Bible
4
The king establishes (stabilizes) the land by justice,
But a man who takes bribes overthrows it.
Proverbs 29:12
Expanded Bible
12 If a ruler pays attention to lies,
all ·his officers [those who serve him] will become wicked [Ps. 101:6–8].
Proverbs 29:12
Amplified Bible
12
If a ruler pays attention to lies [and encourages corruption],
All his officials will become wicked.
Proverbs 29:14
Expanded Bible
14 If a king judges poor people ·fairly [in truth; reliably],
his ·government [L throne] will ·continue [be established] forever.
Proverbs 29:14
Amplified Bible
14
If a king faithfully and truthfully judges the poor,
His throne shall be established forever.
Proverbs 29:26
Expanded Bible
26 Many people want ·to speak to [an audience with] a ruler,
but justice comes only from the Lord.
Proverbs 29:26
Amplified Bible
26
Many seek the ruler’s favor,
But justice for man comes from the Lord.
The Expanded Bible, Copyright © 2011 Thomas Nelson Inc. All rights reserved.
Copyright © 2015 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, CA 90631. All rights reserved.
