Add parallel Print Page Options

21 My child, fear the Lord and the king,
    and do not disobey either of them,[a](A)
22 for disaster comes from them suddenly,
    and who knows the ruin that both can bring?

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. 24.21 Gk: Heb do not associate with those who change

21 My son, fear the Lord and the king,
    and do not disobey either of them;[a]
22 for disaster from them will rise suddenly,
    and who knows the ruin that will come from them both?

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 24:21 Gk: Heb do not associate with those who change

It is the glory of God to conceal things,
    but the glory of kings is to search things out.(A)
Like the heavens for height, like the earth for depth,
    so the mind of kings is unsearchable.

Read full chapter

It is the glory of God to conceal things,
    but the glory of kings is to search things out.
As the heavens for height, and the earth for depth,
    so the mind of kings is unsearchable.

Read full chapter

Take away the dross from the silver,
    and the smith has material for a vessel;(A)
take away the wicked from the presence of the king,
    and his throne will be established in righteousness.(B)

Read full chapter

Take away the dross from the silver,
    and the smith has material for a vessel;
take away the wicked from the presence of the king,
    and his throne will be established in righteousness.

Read full chapter

Do not put yourself forward in the king’s presence
    or stand in the place of the great,
for 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(A)

Read full chapter

Do not put yourself forward in the king’s presence
    or stand in the place of the great;
for it is better to be told, “Come up here,”
    than to be put lower in the presence of the prince.

What your eyes have seen

Read full chapter

By justice a king gives stability to the land,
    but one who makes heavy exactions ruins it.

Read full chapter

By justice a king gives stability to the land,
    but one who exacts gifts ruins it.

Read full chapter

14 If a king judges the poor with equity,
    his throne will be established forever.(A)

Read full chapter

14 If a king judges the poor with equity
    his throne will be established for ever.

Read full chapter

It is not for kings, O Lemuel,
    it is not for kings to drink wine
    or for rulers to desire[a] strong drink,(A)
lest they drink and forget what has been decreed
    and pervert the rights of all the afflicted.
Give strong drink to one who is perishing
    and wine to those in bitter distress;
let them drink and forget their poverty
    and remember their misery no more.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. 31.4 Cn: Heb where

It is not for kings, O Lemuel,
    it is not for kings to drink wine,
    or for rulers to desire[a] strong drink;
lest they drink and forget what has been decreed,
    and pervert the rights of all the afflicted.
Give strong drink to him who is perishing,
    and wine to those in bitter distress;
let them drink and forget their poverty,
    and remember their misery no more.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 31:4 Cn: Heb where