Because of the transgression of a land, many are its princes; But by a man of understanding and knowledge Right will be prolonged.
Parallel translations
- WEB In rebellion, a land has many rulers, but order is maintained by a man of understanding and knowledge.
- KJV For the transgression of a land many are the princes thereof: but by a man of understanding and knowledge the state thereof shall be prolonged.
- BSB A land in rebellion has many rulers, but a man of understanding and knowledge maintains order.
- NASB Due to a wrongdoing of a land its leaders are many, But by a person of understanding and knowledge, so it endures.
- NLT When there is moral rot within a nation, its government topples easily. But wise and knowledgeable leaders bring stability.
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
Lawlessness fractures a nation into many rivals, but wise leadership brings stability. It shows how godly understanding sustains social order.
Overview
When a land is rebellious, it suffers many competing rulers and instability, but a person of understanding maintains lasting order. The verse links national well-being to wise, righteous governance. It anticipates the longing for a perfectly wise and just ruler, fulfilled in Christ, whose government and peace will have no end (Isaiah 9:7).
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 13
- 1 Kgs 16:8–29In the twenty-sixth year of Asa king of Judah, Elah the son of Baasha began to reign over Israel in Tirzah for two years.
- Job 22:28–30You shall also decree a thing, and it shall be established to you. Light shall shine on your ways.
- Gen 45:5–8Now don’t be grieved, nor angry with yourselves, that you sold me here, for God sent me before you to preserve life.
- 1 Kgs 15:28Even in the third year of Asa king of Judah, Baasha killed him, and reigned in his place.
- 2 Kgs 15:8–31In the thirty-eighth year of Azariah king of Judah, Zechariah the son of Jeroboam reigned over Israel in Samaria six months.
- Dan 4:27Therefore, O king, let my counsel be acceptable to you, and break off your sins by righteousness, and your iniquities by showing mercy to the poor; if there may be a lengthening of your tranquility.
- 2 Chr 32:20–26Hezekiah the king and Isaiah the prophet the son of Amoz, prayed because of this, and cried to heaven.
- 1 Kgs 15:25Nadab the son of Jeroboam began to reign over Israel in the second year of Asa king of Judah; and he reigned over Israel two years.
- 2 Chr 36:1–12Then the people of the land took Jehoahaz the son of Josiah, and made him king in his father’s place in Jerusalem.
- Isa 3:1–7For, behold, the Lord, Yahweh of Armies, takes away from Jerusalem and from Judah supply and support, the whole supply of bread, and the whole supply of water;
- Hos 13:11I have given you a king in my anger, and have taken him away in my wrath.
- Isa 58:12Those who shall be of you shall build the old waste places; you shall raise up the foundations of many generations; and you shall be called Repairer of the Breach, Restorer of Paths with Dwellings.
- Eccl 9:15Now a poor wise man was found in it, and he by his wisdom delivered the city; yet no man remembered that same poor man.
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 28:2 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.