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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?

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21 My son, [a](A)fear the Lord and the king;
Do not get involved with those [b]of high rank,
22 For their (B)disaster will rise suddenly,
And who knows the ruin that can come from both of them?

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 24:21 Or revere
  2. Proverbs 24:21 Or who change


It is the glory of God to conceal a matter,
But the glory of kings is to search out a matter.(A)

As the heavens for height and the earth for depth,
So the hearts and minds of kings are [a]unsearchable.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 25:3 The ancient rabbis explained this as a reference to the countless details of government that are a king’s responsibility.

It is the glory of God to (A)conceal a matter,
But the glory of (B)kings is to search out a matter.
As the heavens for height and the earth for depth,
So the heart of kings is unsearchable.

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Take away the dross from the silver,
And there comes out [the pure metal for] a vessel for the silversmith [to shape].(A)

Take away the wicked from before the king,
And his throne will be established in righteousness.

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Take away the [a](A)impurities from the silver,
And there comes out a vessel for the (B)smith;
Take away the (C)wicked before the king,
And his (D)throne will be established in righteousness.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 25:4 Lit dross


Do not be boastfully ambitious and claim honor in the presence of the king,
And do not stand in the place of great men;

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.(A)

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Do not boast in the presence of the king,
And do not stand in the same place [a]as great people;
For (A)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.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 25:6 Lit of


The king establishes (stabilizes) the land by justice,
But a man who takes bribes overthrows it.

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The (A)king gives stability to the land by justice,
But a person who takes bribes ruins it.

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14 
If a king faithfully and truthfully judges the poor,
His throne shall be established forever.

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14 If a (A)king judges the poor with truth,
His (B)throne will be established forever.

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It is not for kings, O Lemuel,
It is not for kings to drink wine,
Or for rulers to desire strong drink,(A)

Otherwise they drink and forget the law and its decrees,
And pervert the rights and justice of all the afflicted.

Give strong drink [as medicine] to him who is ready to pass away,
And wine to him whose life is bitter.

Let him drink and forget his poverty
And no longer remember his trouble.

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It is not for (A)kings, Lemuel,
It is not for kings to (B)drink wine,
Or for rulers to desire intoxicating drink,
Otherwise they will drink and forget what is decreed,
And (C)pervert the [a]rights of all the [b]needy.
Give intoxicating drink to one who is (D)perishing,
And wine to one [c](E)whose life is bitter.
Let him drink and forget his poverty,
And remember his trouble no more.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 31:5 Lit judgment
  2. Proverbs 31:5 Lit sons of affliction
  3. Proverbs 31:6 Lit bitter of soul