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

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28 A large population is a king’s glory,
    but a shortage of people is a ruler’s ruin.

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

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35 The king approves the wise servant,
    but he is angry at anyone who acts shamefully.

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

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10 When a king is ready to speak officially,[a]
    what he says should not err with respect to justice.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 16:10 Lit. king speaks an oracle

12 Kings detest wrongdoing,
    for a throne is established through righteousness.(A)

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

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

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

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12 Kings detest wrongdoing,
    for through righteousness the throne is established.
13 Kings take pleasure in righteous speech;
    they treasure a person who speaks what is upright.
14 The king’s wrath results in a death sentence,
    but whoever is wise will appease him.
15 When a king is pleased,[a] there is life,
    and his favor is like a cloud that brings spring rain.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 16:15 Lit. a king’s face lightens

Eloquent lips are unsuited to a godless fool—
    how much worse lying lips to a ruler!(A)

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Appropriate speech is inconsistent with the fool;
    how much more are deceitful statements[a] with a prince!

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 17:7 Lit. lips

11 Evildoers foster rebellion against God;
    the messenger of death will be sent against them.

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11 A rebellious person seeks evil;
    a cruel emissary will be sent to oppose him.

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12 A king’s rage is like the roar of a lion,(A)
    but his favor is like dew(B) on the grass.(C)

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12 The king’s anger is like the roaring of a lion,
    but his goodwill is like dew on the grass.

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

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A king’s anger is like a lion’s roar;
    anyone who angers him forfeits his life.

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When a king sits on his throne to judge,(A)
    he winnows out all evil with his eyes.(B)

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A king sits on a throne of justice,
    sifting out all sorts of evil with his glance.

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

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26 A wise king sifts the wicked,
    crushing them with the threshing wheel.

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

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28 Gracious love and truth preserve a king;
    through love his throne is made secure.

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21 In the Lord’s hand the king’s heart is a stream of water
    that he channels toward all who please him.(A)

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Thoughts on the Sovereignty of God

21 A king’s heart is a water stream that the Lord controls;
he directs it wherever he pleases.

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