The king’s favor is toward a wise servant, But his wrath is against him who causes shame.
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.
- BSB A king delights in a wise servant, but his anger falls on the shameful.
- 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 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 24:45–51“Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom his lord has set over his household, to give them their food in due season?
- Prov 22:11He who loves purity of heart and speaks gracefully is the king’s friend.
- Prov 25:5Take away the wicked from the king’s presence, and his throne will be established in righteousness.
- Prov 29:12If a ruler listens to lies, all of his officials are wicked.
- Luke 12:42–48The Lord said, “Who then is the faithful and wise steward, whom his lord will set over his household, to give them their portion of food at the right times?
- Matt 25:21“His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a few things, I will set you over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’
- Matt 25:23“His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a few things, I will set you over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’
- Ps 101:4–8A perverse heart will be far from me. I will have nothing to do with evil.
- Prov 19:26He who robs his father and drives away his mother, is a son who causes shame and brings reproach.
- Prov 20:8A king who sits on the throne of judgment scatters away all evil with his eyes.
- Prov 20:26A wise king winnows out the wicked, and drives the threshing wheel over them.
- Prov 17:2A servant who deals wisely will rule over a son who causes shame, and shall have a part in the inheritance among the brothers.
- Prov 19:12–13The king’s wrath is like the roaring 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 the harvest is a son who causes shame.
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.