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

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28 In a multitude of people is a king’s glory,
But in the scarcity of people is a prince’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’s favor is toward a (A)servant who acts wisely,
But his anger is toward him 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 A divine (A)verdict is on the lips of the king;
His mouth should not [a]err in judgment.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 16:10 Lit be unfaithful

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 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.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 16:15 Lit latter

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

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

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 17:7 Lit A lip of abundance

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

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11 A rebellious person seeks only evil,
So a cruel messenger will be sent against 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 A (A)king’s wrath is like the roaring of a lion,
But his favor is like (B)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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The terror of a king is like the roaring of a lion;
One who provokes him to anger [a](A)forfeits his own life.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 20:2 Lit sins against

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

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

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 20:8 Or Sifts

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

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

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 20:26 Lit turns

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

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

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Footnotes

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

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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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.

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