Loving devotion and faithfulness preserve a king; by these he maintains his throne.
Parallel translations
- WEB Love and faithfulness keep the king safe. His throne is sustained by love.
- KJV Mercy and truth preserve the king: and his throne is upholden by mercy.
- NKJV Mercy and truth preserve the king, And by lovingkindness he upholds his throne.
- NASB Loyalty and truth watch over the king, And he upholds his throne by loyalty.
- NLT Unfailing love and faithfulness protect the king; his throne is made secure through love.
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
Steadfast love and faithfulness preserve the king and uphold his throne. It matters because just, loving rule is the true foundation of lasting authority.
Overview
A throne endures not by force but by covenant love and faithfulness — qualities reflecting God's own character (Psalm 89:14). The verse ties the security of rule to moral integrity. It points to the eternal throne of Christ, established forever in righteousness and steadfast love (Isaiah 16:5; Luke 1:32-33).
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 8
- Prov 16:12Wicked behavior is detestable to kings, for a throne is established through righteousness.
- Ps 26:1Of David. Vindicate me, O LORD! For I have walked with integrity; I have trusted in the LORD without wavering.
- Ps 101:1A Psalm of David. I will sing of Your loving devotion and justice; to You, O LORD, I will sing praises.
- Prov 29:14A king who judges the poor with fairness—his throne will be established forever.
- Ps 21:7For the king trusts in the LORD; through the loving devotion of the Most High, he will not be shaken.
- Isa 16:5in loving devotion a throne will be established in the tent of David. A judge seeking justice and hastening righteousness will sit on it in faithfulness.
- Ps 61:7May he sit enthroned in God’s presence forever; appoint Your loving devotion and Your faithfulness to guard him.
- Prov 16:6By loving devotion and faithfulness iniquity is atoned for, and by the fear of the LORD one turns aside from evil.
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 20:28 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.