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 25:2-3
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.
Proverbs 25:2-3
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.
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 25:4-5
Expanded Bible
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].
Proverbs 25:4-5
Amplified Bible
4
Take away the dross from the silver,
And there comes out [the pure metal for] a vessel for the silversmith [to shape].(A)
5
Take away the wicked from before the king,
And his throne will be established in righteousness.
Proverbs 25:6-7
Expanded Bible
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 25:6-7
Amplified Bible
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.(A)
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 29:14
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 31:4-7
Expanded Bible
4 “Kings should not drink wine, Lemuel,
and rulers should not ·desire [crave] ·beer [T strong drink; C alcoholic beverage made from grain; 20:1; 23:19–21, 29–35].
5 If they drink, they might forget the ·law [decrees]
and ·keep the needy from getting their rights [violate the rights of the needy].
6 Give ·beer [T strong drink; v. 4] to people who are ·dying [perishing]
and wine to those ·who are sad [who have bitter hearts].
7 Let them drink and forget their ·need [poverty]
and remember their ·misery [or hard work] no more [Eccl. 2:24–26; 3:12–14, 22; 5:18–20; 8:15; 9:7–10].
Proverbs 31:4-7
Amplified Bible
4
It is not for kings, O Lemuel,
It is not for kings to drink wine,
Or for rulers to desire strong drink,(A)
5
Otherwise they drink and forget the law and its decrees,
And pervert the rights and justice of all the afflicted.
6
Give strong drink [as medicine] to him who is ready to pass away,
And wine to him whose life is bitter.
7
Let him drink and forget his poverty
And no longer remember his trouble.
The Expanded Bible, Copyright © 2011 Thomas Nelson Inc. All rights reserved.
Copyright © 2015 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, CA 90631. All rights reserved.
