15 By me (A)kings reign,
And rulers decree justice.
16 By me princes rule, and nobles,
All who judge rightly.

Read full chapter

28 In a multitude of people is a king’s glory,
But in the scarcity of people is a prince’s ruin.

Read full chapter

35 The king’s favor is toward a (A)servant who acts wisely,
But his anger is toward him who acts shamefully.

Read full chapter

10 A divine (A)verdict is on the lips of the king;
His mouth should not [a]err in judgment.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 16:10 Lit be unfaithful

12 It is an abomination for kings to commit wicked acts,
Because a (A)throne is established on righteousness.
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](B)spring rain.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 16:15 Lit latter

[a](A)Excellent speech is not fitting for a fool,
Much less are (B)lying lips to a prince.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 17:7 Lit A lip of abundance

12 A (A)king’s wrath is like the roaring of a lion,
But his favor is like (B)dew on the grass.

Read full chapter

The terror of a king is like the roaring of a lion;
One who provokes him to anger [a](A)forfeits his own life.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 20:2 Lit sins against

(A)A king who sits on the throne of justice
[a]Disperses all evil with his eyes.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 20:8 Or Sifts

26 A (A)wise king scatters the wicked,
And [a]drives a (B)threshing wheel over them.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 20:26 Lit turns

28 [a]Loyalty and (A)truth watch over the king,
And he upholds his throne by [b]loyalty.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 20:28 I.e., covenant loyalty
  2. Proverbs 20:28 I.e., covenant 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.

Read full chapter

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

Read full chapter

Footnotes

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

On Life and Conduct

23 When you sit down to dine with a ruler,
Consider carefully [a]what is before you,
And put a knife to your throat
If you are a (A)person of great appetite.
Do not (B)desire his delicacies,
For it is deceptive food.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 23:1 Or who

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?

Read full chapter

Footnotes

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

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.

Read full chapter

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.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 25:4 Lit dross

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.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 25:6 Lit of

18 One who tends the (A)fig tree will eat its fruit,
And one who (B)cares for his master will be honored.

Read full chapter

Due to a [a]wrongdoing of [b]a land its leaders are (A)many,
But (B)by a person of understanding and knowledge, so it endures.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 28:2 Or rebellion
  2. Proverbs 28:2 I.e., the people of a land

15 Like a (A)roaring lion and a rushing bear
Is a (B)wicked ruler over a poor people.

Read full chapter

16 A (A)leader who is a great oppressor lacks understanding,
But a person who hates unjust gain will prolong his days.

Read full chapter

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

Read full chapter

12 If a (A)ruler pays attention to falsehood,
All his ministers become wicked.

Read full chapter

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

Read full chapter

Bible Gateway Recommends