Proverbs 22:11
English Standard Version
11 He who (A)loves purity of heart,
and whose (B)speech is gracious, (C)will have the king as his friend.
Proverbs 22:11
International Standard Version
11 Whoever loves purity[a] and gracious speech
will gain the king as his friend.
Footnotes
- Proverbs 22:11 Lit. purity of heart
Proverbs 23:1-3
English Standard Version
23 When you sit down to eat with a ruler,
observe carefully what[a] is before you,
2 and put a knife to your throat
if you are given to appetite.
3 (A)Do not desire his delicacies,
for they are deceptive food.
Footnotes
- Proverbs 23:1 Or who
Proverbs 23:1-3
International Standard Version
Things to Avoid in Life
23 Whenever you sit down to dine with a ruler,
carefully think about what is before you.
2 Put a knife to your own throat,
if you have a big appetite.[a]
3 Don’t crave his delicacies,
because the meal is deceptive.
Footnotes
- Proverbs 23:2 Lit. a master of an appetite
Proverbs 24:21-22
English Standard Version
21 My son, (A)fear the Lord and the king,
and do not join with those who do otherwise,
22 for disaster will arise suddenly from them,
and who knows the ruin that will come from them both?
Proverbs 24:21-22
International Standard Version
21 My son, fear both the Lord and the king,
and don’t keep company with rebels.
22 They will be destroyed suddenly,
and who knows what kind of punishment will come from these two?
Proverbs 25:2-7
English Standard Version
2 It is the glory of God to (A)conceal things,
but the glory of kings is to (B)search things out.
3 As the heavens for height, and the earth for depth,
so the heart of kings is (C)unsearchable.
4 Take away (D)the dross from the silver,
and (E)the smith has material for a vessel;
5 take away (F)the wicked from the presence of the king,
and his (G)throne will be established in righteousness.
6 Do not put yourself forward in the king's presence
or stand in the place of the great,
7 for (H)it is better to be told, “Come up here,”
than to be put lower in the presence of a noble.
What your eyes have seen
Proverbs 25:2-7
International Standard Version
2 It is the glory of God to conceal a matter,
and the glory of kings to investigate a matter.
3 Just as the heavens are high
and earth is deep,
so the heart of a king is unfathomable.
4 Purge the dross from the silver,
and material for[a] a vessel comes forth for the silversmith.
5 Purge the wicked from the king’s presence,
and his throne will be established in righteousness.
6 Don’t magnify yourself in the presence of a king,
and don’t pretend to be in the company of famous men,
7 for it is better that it be told you, “Come up here,”
than for you to be placed lower
in the presence of an official.
What you’ve seen with your own eyes,
Footnotes
- Proverbs 25:4 The Heb. lacks material for
Proverbs 25:15
English Standard Version
15 With (A)patience a ruler may be persuaded,
and a soft tongue will break a bone.
Proverbs 25:15
International Standard Version
15 Through patience a ruler may be persuaded;
a gentle word[a] can break a bone.
Footnotes
- Proverbs 25:15 Lit. tongue
Proverbs 28:2-3
English Standard Version
2 When a land transgresses, (A)it has many rulers,
but with a man of understanding and knowledge,
its stability will long continue.
3 (B)A poor man who oppresses the poor
is a beating rain that leaves no food.
Proverbs 28:2-3
International Standard Version
2 When a land transgresses,
it gains a succession of leaders,
but with an understanding and knowledgeable man,
its stability endures.
3 A poor man who oppresses the weak
is like a rainstorm that destroys all[a] the crops.
Footnotes
- Proverbs 28:3 Lit. that leaves no
Proverbs 28:15-16
English Standard Version
15 Like (A)a roaring lion or (B)a charging bear
is (C)a wicked ruler over a poor people.
16 A ruler who (D)lacks understanding is a cruel oppressor,
but he who hates unjust gain will prolong his days.
Proverbs 28:15-16
International Standard Version
15 A roaring lion and a charging bear—
that’s what a wicked tyrant is over poor people.
16 A Commander-in-Chief[a] who is a cruel oppressor lacks understanding,
but whoever hates unjust gain will live longer.[b]
Footnotes
- Proverbs 28:16 Lit. Nagid; i.e. a senior officer entrusted with dual roles of operational oversight and administrative authority
- Proverbs 28:16 Lit. will lengthen his days
Proverbs 29:4
English Standard Version
Footnotes
- Proverbs 29:4 Or who taxes heavily
Proverbs 29:4
International Standard Version
4 A king brings stability to a land through justice,
but a man who takes bribes brings it to ruin.
Proverbs 29:12
English Standard Version
12 If a ruler listens to falsehood,
all his officials will be wicked.
Proverbs 29:12
International Standard Version
12 When a ruler is listening to lies,
all of his officials tend to become wicked.
Proverbs 29:14
English Standard Version
Proverbs 29:14
International Standard Version
14 When a king faithfully administers justice to the poor,
his throne will be established forever.
Proverbs 29:26
English Standard Version
Proverbs 29:26
International Standard Version
26 Many seek a ruler’s favor,[a]
but justice for a man comes from the Lord.
Footnotes
- Proverbs 29:26 Lit. face
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
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