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THE MESSAGE

Proverbs 28:2

When the country is in chaos, everybody has a plan to fix it— But it takes a leader of real understanding to straighten things out.

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Rulers;   Statecraft;   Thompson Chain Reference - Civic Righteousness;   Nation;   Nation, the;   Righteousness;   Social Duties;   The Topic Concordance - Government;   Knowledge;   Nations;   Transgression;   Understanding;  

Dictionaries:

- Charles Buck Theological Dictionary - Pardon;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Proverbs, Book of;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Greek Versions of Ot;   Proverbs, Book of;  

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
When a land is in rebellion, it has many rulers,but with a discerning and knowledgeable person, it endures.
Hebrew Names Version
In rebellion, a land has many rulers, But order is maintained by a man of understanding and knowledge.
King James Version
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.
English Standard Version
When a land transgresses, it has many rulers, but with a man of understanding and knowledge, its stability will long continue.
New American Standard Bible
Due to a wrongdoing of a land its leaders are many, But by a person of understanding and knowledge, so it endures.
New Century Version
When a country is lawless, it has one ruler after another; but when it is led by a leader with understanding and knowledge, it continues strong.
Amplified Bible
When a land does wrong, it has many princes, But when the ruler is a man of understanding and knowledge, its stability endures.
World English Bible
In rebellion, a land has many rulers, But order is maintained by a man of understanding and knowledge.
Geneva Bible (1587)
For the transgression of the land there are many princes thereof: but by a man of vnderstanding and knowledge a realme likewise endureth long.
Legacy Standard Bible
By the transgression of a land many are its princes,But by a man who understands, who knows, so it endures.
Berean Standard Bible
A land in rebellion has many rulers, but a man of understanding and knowledge maintains order.
Contemporary English Version
In time of civil war there are many leaders, but a sensible leader restores law and order.
Complete Jewish Bible
A land which transgresses [is punished by] having many rulers; but with a man of understanding and knowledge, stability is prolonged.
Darby Translation
By the transgression of a land many are the princes thereof; but by a man of understanding [and] of knowledge, [its] stability is prolonged.
Easy-to-Read Version
A lawless nation will have many bad leaders. But a smart leader will rule for a long time in a land where people obey the law.
George Lamsa Translation
Because of the transgression of a land many are the princes thereof; but by righteous men who know justice the stability thereof shall be prolonged.
Good News Translation
When a nation sins, it will have one ruler after another. But a nation will be strong and endure when it has intelligent, sensible leaders.
Lexham English Bible
By the rebellion of a land, her rulers increase, but by a person of intelligence who knows justice, it will last.
Literal Translation
Because of transgression in a land, many are its rulers, but it is prolonged by a man who has understanding, who knows right .
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
Because of synne ye londe doth oft chaunge hir prynce: but thorow men of vnderstondinge & wy?dome a realme endureth longe.
American Standard Version
For the transgression of a land many are the princes thereof; But by men of understanding and knowledge the state thereof shall be prolonged.
Bible in Basic English
Because of the sin of the land, its troubles are increased; but by a man of wisdom and knowledge they will be put out like a fire.
JPS Old Testament (1917)
For the transgression of a land many are the princes thereof; but by a man of understanding and knowledge established order shall long continue.
King James Version (1611)
For the transgression of a land, many are the princes thereof: but by a man of vnderstanding and knowledge the state thereof shall bee prolonged.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
For the wickednes of the lande, the prince is oft chaunged: but thorowe a man of vnderstanding and wysdome, a realme endureth long.
Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
As birds and sparrows fly, so a curse shall not come upon any one without a cause.
English Revised Version
For the transgression of a land many are the princes thereof: but by men of understanding and knowledge the state thereof shall be prolonged.
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
For the synnes of the lond ben many princis therof; and for the wisdom of a man, and for the kunnyng of these thingis that ben seid, the lijf of the duyk schal be lengere.
Update Bible Version
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.
Webster's Bible Translation
For the transgression of a land many [are] its princes: but by a man of understanding [and] knowledge the state [thereof] shall be prolonged.
New English Translation
When a country is rebellious it has many princes, but by someone who is discerning and knowledgeable order is maintained.
New King James Version
Because of the transgression of a land, many are its princes; But by a man of understanding and knowledge Right will be prolonged.
New Living Translation
When there is moral rot within a nation, its government topples easily. But wise and knowledgeable leaders bring stability.
New Life Bible
When a nation sins, it has many rulers, but with a man of understanding and much learning, it will last a long time.
New Revised Standard
When a land rebels it has many rulers; but with an intelligent ruler there is lasting order.
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
For the transgressions of a land, many are the rulers thereof, but, under an intelligent and discerning man, stability is prolonged.
Douay-Rheims Bible
For the sins of the land many are the princes thereof: and for the wisdom of a man, and the knowledge of those things that are said, the life of the prince shall be prolonged.
Revised Standard Version
When a land transgresses it has many rulers; but with men of understanding and knowledge its stability will long continue.
Young's Literal Translation
By the transgression of a land many [are] its heads. And by an intelligent man, Who knoweth right -- it is prolonged.
New American Standard Bible (1995)
By the transgression of a land many are its princes, But by a man of understanding and knowledge, so it endures.

Contextual Overview

2 When the country is in chaos, everybody has a plan to fix it— But it takes a leader of real understanding to straighten things out.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

the transgression: 1 Kings 15:25, 1 Kings 15:28, 1 Kings 16:8-29, 2 Kings 15:8-31, 2 Chronicles 36:1-12, Isaiah 3:1-7, Hosea 13:11

but: Genesis 45:5-8, 2 Chronicles 32:20-26, Job 22:28-30, Ecclesiastes 9:15, Isaiah 58:12, Daniel 4:27

by a man: etc. by men of understanding and wisdom shall they likewise be prolonged

Reciprocal: Exodus 18:21 - able men 1 Kings 12:18 - flee to Jerusalem 1 Kings 16:21 - divided 2 Kings 15:13 - a full month Ezra 8:16 - men of understanding Ecclesiastes 10:17 - when Isaiah 33:6 - wisdom Jeremiah 52:3 - through Revelation 4:7 - the first beast

Cross-References

Genesis 24:10
The servant took ten of his master's camels and, loaded with gifts from his master, traveled to Aram Naharaim and the city of Nahor. Outside the city, he made the camels kneel at a well. It was evening, the time when the women came to draw water. He prayed, "O God , God of my master Abraham, make things go smoothly this day; treat my master Abraham well! As I stand here by the spring while the young women of the town come out to get water, let the girl to whom I say, ‘Lower your jug and give me a drink,' and who answers, ‘Drink, and let me also water your camels'—let her be the woman you have picked out for your servant Isaac. Then I'll know that you're working graciously behind the scenes for my master."
Genesis 24:29
Rebekah had a brother named Laban. Laban ran outside to the man at the spring. He had seen the nose ring and the bracelets on his sister and had heard her say, "The man said this and this and this to me." So he went to the man and there he was, still standing with his camels at the spring. Laban welcomed him: "Come on in, blessed of God ! Why are you standing out here? I've got the house ready for you; and there's also a place for your camels."
Genesis 24:50
Laban and Bethuel answered, "This is totally from God . We have no say in the matter, either yes or no. Rebekah is yours: Take her and go; let her be the wife of your master's son, as God has made plain."
Genesis 28:5
So Isaac sent Jacob off. He went to Paddan Aram, to Laban son of Bethuel the Aramean, the brother of Rebekah who was the mother of Jacob and Esau.
Genesis 28:20
Jacob vowed a vow: "If God stands by me and protects me on this journey on which I'm setting out, keeps me in food and clothing, and brings me back in one piece to my father's house, this God will be my God. This stone that I have set up as a memorial pillar will mark this as a place where God lives. And everything you give me, I'll return a tenth to you."
Genesis 29:1
Jacob set out again on his way to the people of the east. He noticed a well out in an open field with three flocks of sheep bedded down around it. This was the common well from which the flocks were watered. The stone over the mouth of the well was huge. When all the flocks were gathered, the shepherds would roll the stone from the well and water the sheep; then they would return the stone, covering the well.
Genesis 35:9
God revealed himself once again to Jacob, after he had come back from Paddan Aram and blessed him: "Your name is Jacob (Heel); but that's your name no longer. From now on your name is Israel (God-Wrestler)."
Genesis 46:15
These are the sons that Leah bore to Jacob in Paddan Aram. There was also his daughter Dinah. Altogether, sons and daughters, they numbered thirty-three.
Hosea 12:12
Are you going to repeat the life of your ancestor Jacob? He ran off guilty to Aram, Then sold his soul to get ahead, and made it big through treachery and deceit. Your real identity is formed through God-sent prophets, who led you out of Egypt and served as faithful pastors. As it is, Ephraim has continually and inexcusably insulted God. Now he has to pay for his life-destroying ways. His Master will do to him what he has done.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

For the transgression of a land many [are] the princes thereof,.... Either together; that is, reigning princes, such as lay claim to the crown, and usurp it; otherwise it is a happiness to a nation to have many princes of the blood, to inherit in succession, to support the crown in their family, and defend a nation, and study the good of it; but it is a judgment to a nation when many rise up as competitors for rule, or do rule, as at Athens, where thirty tyrants sprung up at once; by which factions and parties are made, and which issue in oppression, rapine, and murder: or successively, very quickly, one after another, being dethroned the one by the other: or removed by death, as in the land of Israel, in the times of the judges, and of the kings of Israel and Judah, after the revolt of the ten tribes; which frequent changes produce different administrations, new laws, and fresh taxes, disagreeable to the people; and oftentimes children come to be their princes, which is always reckoned an infelicity to a nation; see

Ecclesiastes 10:16; and all this is usually for some national sin or sins indulged to, which draw upon a people the divine resentment, and provoke God to suffer such changes among there;

but by a man of understanding [and] knowledge the state [thereof] shall be prolonged, either by a set of wise and understanding, good and virtuous men, who will oppose the growing vice and immoralities of a people, and form themselves into societies for the reformation of manners; the word "man" being taken collectively for a body of men: or by a wise and prudent minister or ministry, or a set of civil magistrates, who will show themselves to be terrors to evildoers, and a praise to them that do well: or by a wise and prudent prince, who seeks to establish his throne by judgment and mercy; who will take care that justice and judgment be executed in the land, and that vice and profaneness be discouraged; by means of such, the state of a kingdom, which seemed near to ruin, will be prolonged, and the happiness and prosperity of it secured and established; and God, in mercy to it, may long preserve the life of their king, will being a good one, a long reign is always a happiness to a nation. And to this sense is the Vulgate Latin version, "the life of the prince shall be longer"; and the Targum, which is,

"and the sons of men that understand knowledge shall endure;''

see Ecclesiastes 9:15.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Transgression - Better, rebellion. A revolt against a ruler leads to rapid changes of dynasty (the whole history of the kingdom of Israel was a proof of this), but “with men of understanding and knowledge thus shall he (the prince) continue.” True wisdom will lead people to maintain an existing order. The King James Version implies that political disorders may come as the punishment of any national sin.

The state - Better, it (the land) shall surely prolong its days in stability.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Proverbs 28:2. Many are the princesNations, as nations, cannot be judged in a future world; therefore, God judges them here. And where the people are very wicked, and the constitution very bad, the succession of princes is frequent-they are generally taken off by an untimely death. Where the people know that the constitution is in their favour, they seldom disturb the prince, as they consider him the guardian of their privileges.

But by a man of understanding — Whether he be a king, or the king's prime minister, the prosperity of the state is advanced by his counsels.


 
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