A king delights in a wise servant, but his anger falls on the shameful.
Parallel translations
- WEB The king’s favor is toward a servant who deals wisely, but his wrath is toward one who causes shame.
- KJV The king’s favour is toward a wise servant: but his wrath is against him that causeth shame.
- ESV A servant who deals wisely has the king’s favor, but his wrath falls on one who acts shamefully.
- NKJV The king’s favor is toward a wise servant, But his wrath is against him who causes shame.
- NASB The king’s favor is toward a servant who acts wisely, But his anger is toward him who acts shamefully.
- NLT A king rejoices in wise servants but is angry with those who disgrace him.
Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
A king favors a wise servant but is angered by a shameful one. Wise and faithful service earns the approval of those in authority.
Overview
This proverb observes that competent, prudent service gains a ruler's favor, while disgraceful conduct draws his wrath. It commends faithful, skillful work, especially before those in authority. The principle points to the greater King who commends His faithful servants with 'well done' (Matthew 25:21).
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 14
- Matt 24:45–51Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom the master has put in charge of his household, to give the others their food at the proper time?
- Prov 22:11He who loves a pure heart and gracious lips will have the king for a friend.
- Prov 25:5Remove the wicked from the king’s presence, and his throne will be established in righteousness.
- Prov 29:12If a ruler listens to lies, all his officials will be wicked.
- Luke 12:42–48And the Lord answered, “Who then is the faithful and wise manager, whom the master puts in charge of his servants to give them their portion at the proper time?
- Matt 25:21His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Enter into the joy of your master!’
- Matt 25:23His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Enter into the joy of your master!’
- Ps 101:4–8A perverse heart shall depart from me; I will know nothing of evil.
- Prov 19:26He who assaults his father or evicts his mother is a son who brings shame and disgrace.
- Prov 20:8A king who sits on a throne to judge sifts out all evil with his eyes.
- Prov 20:26A wise king separates out the wicked and drives the threshing wheel over them.
- Prov 17:2A wise servant will rule over a disgraceful son and share his inheritance as one of the brothers.
- Prov 19:12–13A king’s rage is like the roar of a lion, but his favor is like dew on the grass.
- Prov 10:5He who gathers in summer is a wise son, but he who sleeps during harvest is a disgraceful son.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
Wisdom personified, with God before creation and the agent of all things, anticipates Christ 'in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom' — the wisdom of God made flesh.
How Proverbs 14:35 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.