When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice: but when the wicked beareth rule, the people mourn.
Parallel translations
- WEB When the righteous thrive, the people rejoice; but when the wicked rule, the people groan.
- BSB When the righteous flourish, the people rejoice, but when the wicked rule, the people groan.
- NKJV When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice; But when a wicked man rules, the people groan.
- NASB When the righteous increase, the people rejoice, But when a wicked person rules, people groan.
- NLT When the godly are in authority, the people rejoice. But when the wicked are in power, they groan.
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
People rejoice when the righteous flourish but groan under wicked rule. It shows how the character of leaders shapes a society's joy or misery.
Overview
The proverb contrasts the rejoicing that comes when the righteous increase in influence with the groaning that follows when the wicked rule. Just governance is a blessing to the people, while corrupt power is a burden. It stirs longing for the reign of the righteous King, Christ, under whose rule the redeemed will finally rejoice (Isaiah 9:7).
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 12
- Prov 28:12When righteous men do rejoice, there is great glory: but when the wicked rise, a man is hidden.
- Prov 11:10When it goeth well with the righteous, the city rejoiceth: and when the wicked perish, there is shouting.
- Prov 28:28When the wicked rise, men hide themselves: but when they perish, the righteous increase.
- Esth 8:15And Mordecai went out from the presence of the king in royal apparel of blue and white, and with a great crown of gold, and with a garment of fine linen and purple: and the city of Shushan rejoiced and was glad.
- Eccl 10:5There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, as an error which proceedeth from the ruler:
- Esth 3:15The posts went out, being hastened by the king’s commandment, and the decree was given in Shushan the palace. And the king and Haman sat down to drink; but the city Shushan was perplexed.
- Rev 11:15And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever.
- Ps 72:1–7Give the king thy judgments, O God, and thy righteousness unto the king’s son.
- Jer 23:5–6Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will raise unto David a righteous Branch, and a King shall reign and prosper, and shall execute judgment and justice in the earth.
- Isa 32:1–2Behold, a king shall reign in righteousness, and princes shall rule in judgment.
- Matt 2:16Then Herod, when he saw that he was mocked of the wise men, was exceeding wroth, and sent forth, and slew all the children that were in Bethlehem, and in all the coasts thereof, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had diligently enquired of the wise men.
- Matt 2:3When Herod the king had heard these things, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
Resources, by level
Commentaries & study tools
Free animated overview and word-study videos for this book.
Sermons and teaching on this passage from across YouTube.
Clear, readable, conservative exposition — the best free place to start on any passage.
Matthew Henry, Barnes, Gill, the Pulpit Commentary, Ellicott, Cambridge, and more — stacked on one page for this exact verse.
The beloved Puritan exposition of this whole book — warm, devotional, and verse by verse (free, CCEL).
Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.
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 29:2 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.