Proverbs 28:16
14 Happy is the man that feareth alway: but he that hardeneth his heart shall fall into mischief.
15 As a roaring lion, and a ranging bear; so is a wicked ruler over the poor people.
The prince that wanteth understanding is also a great oppressor: but he that hateth covetousness shall prolong his days.
17 A man that doeth violence to the blood of any person shall flee to the pit; let no man stay him.
18 Whoso walketh uprightly shall be saved: but he that is perverse in his ways shall fall at once.
This was said to Israel at a particular time, so it is wise to read it together with the surrounding text. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.
Compare
- BSB
- A leader who lacks judgment is also a great oppressor, but he who hates dishonest profit will prolong his days.
- KJV
- The prince that wanteth understanding is also a great oppressor: but he that hateth covetousness shall prolong his days.
- WEB
- A tyrannical ruler lacks judgment. One who hates ill-gotten gain will have long days.
- ASV
- The prince that lacketh understanding is also a great oppressor; [But] he that hateth covetousness shall prolong his days.
- DARBY
- The prince void of intelligence is also a great oppressor: he that hateth covetousness shall prolong [his] days.
- BLB
- A leader lacking [in] understanding [is] also abundant of oppressions; one hating dishonest gain prolongs days.
- ÅB
- Du fyrste som er fattig på forstand og rik på vold! De som hater urettferdig vinning, skal leve lenge.
- OTB
- En tyrannisk hersker mangler forståelse, men den som hater urettferdig vinning vil forlenge sine dager.
- B1930
- Du fyrste som er fattig på forstand og rik på vold! De som hater urettferdig vinning, skal leve lenge.
Study notes (Tyndale)
Original text and word study
Cross references
Exodus 18:21
Moreover thou shalt provide out of all the people able men, such as fear God, men of truth, hating covetousness; and place such over them, to be rulers of thousands, and rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens:
Read in contextJeremiah 22:15–17
Shalt thou reign, because thou closest thyself in cedar? did not thy father eat and drink, and do judgment and justice, and then it was well with him?
Read in context1 Kings 12:14
And spake to them after the counsel of the young men, saying, My father made your yoke heavy, and I will add to your yoke: my father also chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scorpions.
Read in context1 Kings 12:10
And the young men that were grown up with him spake unto him, saying, Thus shalt thou speak unto this people that spake unto thee, saying, Thy father made our yoke heavy, but make thou it lighter unto us; thus shalt thou say unto them, My little finger shall be thicker than my father’s loins.
Read in contextIsaiah 33:15–16
He that walketh righteously, and speaketh uprightly; he that despiseth the gain of oppressions, that shaketh his hands from holding of bribes, that stoppeth his ears from hearing of blood, and shutteth his eyes from seeing evil;
Read in contextIsaiah 3:12
As for my people, children are their oppressors, and women rule over them. O my people, they which lead thee cause thee to err, and destroy the way of thy paths.
Read in contextEcclesiastes 4:1
So I returned, and considered all the oppressions that are done under the sun: and behold the tears of such as were oppressed, and they had no comforter; and on the side of their oppressors there was power; but they had no comforter.
Read in contextNehemiah 5:15
But the former governors that had been before me were chargeable unto the people, and had taken of them bread and wine, beside forty shekels of silver; yea, even their servants bare rule over the people: but so did not I, because of the fear of God.
Read in context