Christian Standard Bible
Proverbs 29:4
4By justice a king brings stability to a land, but a person who demands “contributions” demolishes it.
Proverbs 29:4 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)The king by judgment establisheth the land: but he that receiveth gifts overthroweth it.
- New International Version (NIV)By justice a king gives a country stability, but those who are greedy for bribes tear it down.
- English Standard Version (ESV)By justice a king builds up the land, but he who exacts gifts tears it down.
- New King James Version (NKJV)The king establishes the land by justice, But he who receives bribes overthrows it.
Context of Proverbs 29:4
2When the righteous flourish, the people rejoice, but when the wicked rule, people groan. 3A man who loves wisdom brings joy to his father, but one who consorts with prostitutes destroys his wealth. By justice a king brings stability to a land, but a person who demands “contributions” demolishes it. 5A person who flatters his neighbor spreads a net for his feet. 6An evil person is caught by sin, but the righteous one sings and rejoices.
Read all of Proverbs 29Proverbs 29:4 word by word
מֶ֗לֶךְ בְּ֭מִשְׁפָּט יַעֲמִ֣יד אָ֑רֶץ וְאִ֖ישׁ תְּרוּמ֣וֹת יֶֽהֶרְסֶֽנָּה׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for Proverbs 29:4
- Proverbs 29:14A king who judges the poor with fairness — his throne will be established forever.
- Proverbs 16:12Wicked behavior is detestable to kings, since a throne is established through righteousness.
- Proverbs 20:8A king sitting on a throne to judge separates out all evil with his eyes.
- 1 Samuel 13:13Samuel said to Saul, “You have been foolish. You have not kept the command the Lord your God gave you. It was at this time that the Lord would have permanently established your reign over Israel,
- 2 Samuel 8:15So David reigned over all Israel, administering justice and righteousness for all his people.
- 1 Kings 2:12Solomon sat on the throne of his father David, and his kingship was firmly established.
- Psalms 89:14Righteousness and justice are the foundation of your throne; faithful love and truth go before you.
- Psalms 99:4The mighty King loves justice. You have established fairness; you have administered justice and righteousness in Jacob.
- Isaiah 9:7The dominion will be vast, and its prosperity will never end. He will reign on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish and sustain it with justice and righteousness from now on and forever. The zeal of the Lord of Armies will accomplish this.
- Isaiah 49:8This is what the Lord says: I will answer you in a time of favor, and I will help you in the day of salvation. I will keep you, and I will appoint you to be a covenant for the people, to restore the land, to make them possess the desolate inheritances,
- 2 Kings 15:18He did what was evil in the Lord’s sight. Throughout his reign, he did not turn away from the sins Jeroboam son of Nebat had caused Israel to commit.
- Jeremiah 22:13Woe for the one who builds his palace through unrighteousness, his upstairs rooms through injustice, who makes his neighbor serve without pay and will not give him his wages,
- Daniel 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 broken, though not in anger or in battle.
- Micah 7:3Both hands are good at accomplishing evil: the official and the judge demand a bribe; when the powerful man communicates his evil desire, they plot it together.
Commentaries on Proverbs 29:4
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 4He that receiveth gifts - This was notoriously the case in this kingdom, before the passing of the Magna Charta, or great charter of liberties. Hence that article in it, Nulli vendemus justitiam; "We will not sell justice to any." I have met with cases in our ancient records where, in order to get his right, a man was obliged almost to ruin himself in presents to the king, queen, and their favourites, to get the case decided in his favor.Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 4Verse 4 The Lord Jesus is the King who will minister true judgment to the people.Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 4A fair king protects the rights of others. A ruler who takes bribes uses his position for personal benefit (see also Proverbs 17:23; 22:16; 28:21).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 44. by judgment--that is, righteous decisions, opposed to those procured by gifts (compare Pr 28:21), by which good government is perverted. land--for nation.Read the comment
Topics related to Proverbs 29:4
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Proverbs 29
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Rashi on Tanakh
- Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
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