Proverbs 16:10
8 Better a little with righteousness than great gain with injustice.
9 A man’s heart plans his course, but the LORD determines his steps.
A divine verdict is on the lips of a king; his mouth must not betray justice.
11 Honest scales and balances are from the LORD; all the weights in the bag are His concern.
12 Wicked behavior is detestable to kings, for a throne is established through righteousness.
Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.
Compare
- BSB
- A divine verdict is on the lips of a king; his mouth must not betray justice.
- KJV
- A divine sentence is in the lips of the king: his mouth transgresseth not in judgment.
- WEB
- Inspired judgments are on the lips of the king. He shall not betray his mouth.
- ASV
- A divine sentence is in the lips of the king; His mouth shall not transgress in judgment.
- DARBY
- An oracle is on the lips of the king: his mouth will not err in judgment.
- BLB
- Divination [is] on the lips of the king; in judgment his mouth shall not be unfaithful.
- ÅB
- Guddoms-ord er på kongens lepper; hans munn skal ikke forsynde seg når han dømmer.
- OTB
- En guddommelig beslutning er på leppene til en konge; hans munn skal ikke svikte rettferdigheten.
- B1930
- Guddoms-ord er på kongens leber; hans munn skal ikke forsynde sig når han dømmer.
Study notes (Tyndale)
Original text and word study
Cross references
Isaiah 32:1–2
Behold, a king will reign in righteousness, and princes will rule with justice.
Read in contextGenesis 44:5
Is this not the cup my master drinks from and uses for divination? What you have done is wicked!’”
Read in contextGenesis 44:15
“What is this deed you have done?” Joseph declared. “Do you not know that a man like me can surely divine the truth?”
Read in contextHosea 10:4
They speak mere words; with false oaths they make covenants. So judgment springs up like poisonous weeds in the furrows of a field.
Read in contextDeuteronomy 17:18–20
When he is seated on his royal throne, he must write for himself a copy of this instruction on a scroll in the presence of the Levitical priests.
Read in contextJeremiah 23:5–6
Behold, the days are coming, declares the LORD, when I will raise up for David a righteous Branch, and He will reign wisely as King and will administer justice and righteousness in the land.
Read in contextPsalms 72:1–4
Endow the king with Your justice, O God, and the son of the king with Your righteousness.
Read in contextPsalms 45:6–7
Your throne, O God, endures forever and ever, and justice is the scepter of Your kingdom.
Read in context