God’s Word Translation
Proverbs 29:12
12If a ruler pays attention to lies, all his servants become wicked.
Proverbs 29:12 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)If a ruler hearken to lies, all his servants are wicked.
- New International Version (NIV)If a ruler listens to lies, all his officials become wicked.
- English Standard Version (ESV)If a ruler listens to falsehood, all his officials will be wicked.
- New King James Version (NKJV)If a ruler pays attention to lies, All his servants become wicked.
Context of Proverbs 29:12
10Bloodthirsty people hate an innocent person, but decent people seek ⌞to protect⌟ his life. 11A fool expresses all his emotions, but a wise person controls them. If a ruler pays attention to lies, all his servants become wicked. 13A poor person and an oppressor have this in common: The Lord gives both of them sight. 14When a king judges the poor with honesty, his throne will always be secure.
Read all of Proverbs 29Proverbs 29:12 word by word
מֹ֭שֵׁל מַקְשִׁ֣יב עַל־דְּבַר־שָׁ֑קֶר כָּֽל־מְשָׁרְתָ֥יו רְשָׁעִֽים׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for Proverbs 29:12
- Proverbs 20:8A king who sits on his throne to judge sifts out every evil with his eyes.
- Proverbs 25:23⌞As⌟ the north wind brings rain, so a whispering tongue brings angry looks.
- 1 Samuel 22:8All of you are plotting against me, and no one informed me when my son entered into a loyalty pledge with Jesse’s son. No one felt sorry for me and informed me that my son has encouraged my servant David to ambush me, as he’s doing now.”
- 1 Samuel 23:19Then the men of Ziph went to Saul in Gibeah. They said, “David is hiding with us in fortified camps at Horesh on the hills of Hachilah, south of Jeshimon.
- 2 Samuel 3:7Saul had a concubine named Rizpah (Aiah’s daughter). Ishbosheth asked Abner, “Why did you have sex with my father’s concubine?”
- 2 Samuel 4:5Rechab and Baanah, the sons of Rimmon from Beeroth, came to Ishbosheth’s home at the hottest time of the day. Ishbosheth was taking his midday nap
- 1 Kings 21:11The men in Naboth’s city—the respected leaders and nobles who lived there—did what Jezebel asked them to do. They did just as she had written in the letters she sent.
- 2 Kings 10:6So he wrote them a second letter. It read, “If you are on my side and ready to listen to me, bring the heads of your master’s heirs to me in Jezreel about this time tomorrow.” The 70 male heirs were staying with the city’s most powerful men. These men had raised them.
- Psalms 52:2Your tongue makes up threats. It’s like a sharp razor, you master of deceit.
- Psalms 101:5I will destroy anyone who secretly slanders his neighbor. I will not tolerate anyone with a conceited look or arrogant heart.
Commentaries on Proverbs 29:12
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 12If a ruler hearken to lies - Wherever the system of espionage is permitted to prevail, there the system of falsity is established; for he who is capable of being a spy and informer, is not only capable of telling and swearing lies, but also of cutting his king's or even his father's throat. I have seen cases, where the same spy received pay from both parties, and deceived both.Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 12All his servants are wicked - They know what will please, and they become informers and backbiters.Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 12Verse 12 One who loves flatterers, and hearkens to slanderers, causes his servants to become liars and false accusers.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1212. His servants imitate him.Read the comment
Topics related to Proverbs 29:12
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
God’s Word Translation — © 1995 God’s Word to the Nations Bible Society
Commentaries