Proverbs 29:4
2 When the righteous flourish, the people rejoice, but when the wicked rule, the people groan.
3 A man who loves wisdom brings joy to his father, but a companion of prostitutes squanders his wealth.
By justice a king brings stability to the land, but a man who exacts tribute demolishes it.
5 A man who flatters his neighbor spreads a net for his feet.
6 An evil man is caught by his own sin, but a righteous one sings and rejoices.
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
- By justice a king brings stability to the land, but a man who exacts tribute demolishes it.
- KJV
- The king by judgment establisheth the land: but he that receiveth gifts overthroweth it.
- WEB
- The king by justice makes the land stable, but he who takes bribes tears it down.
- ASV
- The king by justice establisheth the land; But he that exacteth gifts overthroweth it.
- DARBY
- A king by just judgment establisheth the land; but he that taketh gifts overthroweth it.
- BLB
- A king by justice establishes the land, and a man of contributions tears it down.
- ÅB
- En konge trygger sitt land ved rett; men en mann som tar imot gaver, bryter det ned.
- OTB
- En konge gir stabilitet til landet gjennom rettferdighet, men de som tar imot bestikkelser, undergraver det.
- B1930
- En konge trygger sitt land ved rett; men en mann som tar imot gaver, bryter det ned.
Study notes (Tyndale)
Original text and word study
Cross references
Proverbs 29:14
A king who judges the poor with fairness— his throne will be established forever.
Read in contextProverbs 20:8
A king who sits on a throne to judge sifts out all evil with his eyes.
Read in contextDaniel 11:20
In his place one will arise who will send out a tax collector for the glory of the kingdom; but within a few days he will be destroyed, though not in anger or in battle.
Read in contextMicah 7:3
Both hands are skilled at evil; the prince and the judge demand a bribe. When the powerful utters his evil desire, they all conspire together.
Read in context2 Chronicles 9:8
Blessed be the LORD your God, who has delighted in you to set you on His throne to be king for the LORD your God. Because your God loved Israel enough to establish them forever, He has made you king over them to carry out justice and righteousness.”
Read in context2 Kings 15:18–20
And he did evil in the sight of the LORD, and throughout his reign he did not turn away from the sins that Jeroboam son of Nebat had caused Israel to commit.
Read in contextJeremiah 22:13–17
“Woe to him who builds his palace by unrighteousness, and his upper rooms without justice, who makes his countrymen serve without pay, and fails to pay their wages,
Read in context1 Kings 2:12
So Solomon sat on the throne of his father David, and his kingdom was firmly established.
Read in context