God’s Word Translation
Proverbs 14:34
34Righteousness lifts up a nation, but sin is a disgrace in any society.
Proverbs 14:34 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people.
- New International Version (NIV)Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin condemns any people.
- English Standard Version (ESV)Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people.
- New King James Version (NKJV)Righteousness exalts a nation, But sin is a reproach to any people.
Context of Proverbs 14:34
32A wicked person is thrown down by his own wrongdoing, but even in his death a righteous person has a refuge. 33Wisdom finds rest in the heart of an understanding person. Even fools recognize this. Righteousness lifts up a nation, but sin is a disgrace in any society. 35A king is delighted with a servant who acts wisely, but he is furious with one who acts shamefully.
Read all of Proverbs 14Proverbs 14:34 word by word
צְדָקָ֥ה תְרֽוֹמֵֽם־גּ֑וֹי וְחֶ֖סֶד לְאֻמִּ֣ים חַטָּֽאת׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for Proverbs 14:34
- Deuteronomy 4:6Faithfully obey these laws. This will show the people of the world your wisdom and insight. When they hear about all these laws, they will say, “What wise and insightful people there are in this great nation!”
- Deuteronomy 28:1Carefully obey the Lord your God, and faithfully follow all his commands that I’m giving you today. If you do, the Lord your God will place you high above all the other nations in the world.
- Judges 2:6Now, Joshua sent the people of Israel home. So each family went to take possession of the territory they had inherited.
- Jeremiah 2:2“Go and announce to Jerusalem, ‘This is what the Lord says: I remember the unfailing loyalty of your youth, the love you had for me as a bride. I remember how you followed me into the desert, into a land that couldn’t be farmed.
- Hosea 13:1When the tribe of Ephraim spoke, people trembled. The people of Ephraim were important in Israel. Then they became guilty of worshiping Baal, so they must die.
- Deuteronomy 28:15Obey the Lord your God, and faithfully follow all his commands and laws that I am giving you today. If you don’t, all these curses will come to you and stay close to you:
- Deuteronomy 29:18Make sure there is no man, woman, family, or tribe among you today who turns from the Lord our God to worship the gods of those nations. Make sure that no one among you is the source of this kind of bitter poison.
- Psalms 107:34and fertile ground into a layer of salt because of the wickedness of the people living there.
- Ezekiel 16:22With all the disgusting things that you did and all your acts of prostitution, you didn’t remember the time when you were young. You didn’t remember when you were naked and bare, kicking around in your own blood.
Commentaries on Proverbs 14:34
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 34But sin is a reproach to any people - I am satisfied this is not the sense of the original, חטאת לאמים וחסד vechesed leummim chattath ; which would be better rendered, And mercy is a sin-offering for the people. The Vulgate has, Miseros autem facit populos peccatum, "sin makes the people wretched." ̔ ; "But sins lessen the tribes." - Septuagint. So also the Syriac and Arabic. The plain meaning of the original seems to be, A national disposition to mercy…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 34Reproach - The word so rendered has this sense in the Targum of Leviticus 20:17. Its more usual meaning is “mercy,” “piety;” hence, some have attached to the word rendered “sin” the sense of “sin-offering,” and so get the maxim “piety is an atonement for the people.”Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 34Verse 34 Piety and holiness always promote industry, sobriety, and honesty.Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 34A great nation is not defined by wealth, power, or military victories (Proverbs 14:28) but by its moral values.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 3434. Righteousness--just principles and actions. exalteth--raises to honor. is a reproach--brings on them the ill-will of others (compare Pr 13:6).Read the comment
Topics related to Proverbs 14:34
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Proverbs 14
- 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
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
God’s Word Translation — © 1995 God’s Word to the Nations Bible Society
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