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Thursday, January 16th, 2025
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Read the Bible

New American Standard Bible

Proverbs 16:12

It is an abomination for kings to commit wicked acts, Because a throne is established on righteousness.

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Rulers;   Thompson Chain Reference - Civic Righteousness;   Duty;   King;   Kings, Duties of;   Magistrates;   Nation;   Nation, the;   Righteousness;   Ruler's Duty;   Rulers;   Social Duties;   The Topic Concordance - Abomination;   Government;   Righteousness;   Throne;   Torrey's Topical Textbook - Kings;   Righteousness;  

Dictionaries:

- Charles Buck Theological Dictionary - Pardon;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Proverbs, Book of;  

Encyclopedias:

- The Jewish Encyclopedia - Patriotism;  

Parallel Translations

English Standard Version
It is an abomination to kings to do evil, for the throne is established by righteousness.
Geneva Bible (1587)
It is an abomination to Kings to commit wickednes: for the throne is stablished by iustice.
Christian Standard Bible®
Wicked behavior is detestable to kings,since a throne is established through righteousness.
Hebrew Names Version
It is an abomination for kings to do wrong, For the throne is established by righteousness.
Easy-to-Read Version
Kings hate to see anyone doing wrong, because kingdoms grow strong only when everyone is honest and fair.
Amplified Bible
It is repulsive [to God and man] for kings to behave wickedly, For a throne is established on righteousness (right standing with God).
American Standard Version
It is an abomination to kings to commit wickedness; For the throne is established by righteousness.
Contemporary English Version
Justice makes rulers powerful. They should hate evil
Complete Jewish Bible
It is an abomination for a king to do evil, for the throne is made secure by righteousness.
JPS Old Testament (1917)
It is an abomination to kings to commit wickedness; for the throne is established by righteousness.
King James Version (1611)
It is an abomination to kings to commit wickednesse: for the throne is established by righteousnesse.
Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
An evil-doer is an abomination to a king; for the throne of rule is established by righteousness.
English Revised Version
It is an abomination to kings to commit wickedness: for the throne is established by righteousness.
Berean Standard Bible
Wicked behavior is detestable to kings, for a throne is established through righteousness.
Lexham English Bible
An abomination to kings is doing evil, for by righteousness the throne will be established.
Literal Translation
It is an abomination for kings to commit wickedness, for the throne is made firm by righteousness.
New Century Version
Kings hate those who do wrong, because governments only continue if they are fair.
New English Translation
Doing wickedness is an abomination to kings, because a throne is established in righteousness.
New King James Version
It is an abomination for kings to commit wickedness, For a throne is established by righteousness.
New Living Translation
A king detests wrongdoing, for his rule is built on justice.
New Life Bible
It is a hated thing for kings to do what is wrong. For a throne is built on what is right.
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
The abomination of kings, is to work lawlessness, for, by righteousness, is established a throne.
Douay-Rheims Bible
They that act wickedly are abominable to the king: for the throne is established by justice.
George Lamsa Translation
Kings who commit wickedness are an abomination; for a throne is established by righteousness.
Good News Translation
Kings cannot tolerate evil, because justice is what makes a government strong.
King James Version
It is an abomination to kings to commit wickedness: for the throne is established by righteousness.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
Wicked doers are an abhomination to the kyng, for a kynges seate shoulde be holden vp with ryghteousnesse.
New Revised Standard
It is an abomination to kings to do evil, for the throne is established by righteousness.
Darby Translation
It is an abomination to kings to commit wickedness; for the throne is established by righteousness.
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
Thei that don wickidli ben abhomynable to the king; for the trone of the rewme is maad stidfast bi riytfulnesse.
Young's Literal Translation
An abomination to kings [is] doing wickedness, For by righteousness is a throne established.
World English Bible
It is an abomination for kings to do wrong, For the throne is established by righteousness.
Revised Standard Version
It is an abomination to kings to do evil, for the throne is established by righteousness.
Update Bible Version
It is disgusting to kings to commit wickedness; For the throne is established by righteousness.
Webster's Bible Translation
[It is] an abomination to kings to commit wickedness: for the throne is established by righteousness.
Bible in Basic English
Evil-doing is disgusting to kings: for the seat of the ruler is based on righteousness.
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
It is a greate abhominacio when kynges are wycked, for a kynges seate shulde be holden vp wt righteousnesse.
THE MESSAGE
Good leaders abhor wrongdoing of all kinds; sound leadership has a moral foundation.
New American Standard Bible (1995)
It is an abomination for kings to commit wicked acts, For a throne is established on righteousness.
Legacy Standard Bible
It is an abomination for kings to commit wickedness,For in righteousness a throne is established.

Contextual Overview

12 It is an abomination for kings to commit wicked acts, Because a throne is established on righteousness.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

an: Proverbs 28:9, Deuteronomy 25:16, Luke 12:48

for: Proverbs 20:18, Proverbs 25:5, Proverbs 29:14, Psalms 99:4, Revelation 19:11

Reciprocal: Psalms 89:14 - habitation Psalms 97:2 - habitation Psalms 101:8 - early Proverbs 8:7 - an abomination to Proverbs 16:10 - A divine sentence Proverbs 20:8 - General Proverbs 20:28 - his Proverbs 29:4 - king Proverbs 31:9 - General Acts 24:25 - righteousness

Cross-References

Genesis 16:5
So Sarai said to Abram, "May the wrong done to me be upon you! I put my slave woman into your arms, but when she saw that she had conceived, I was insignificant in her sight. May the LORD judge between you and me."
Genesis 16:8
He said, "Hagar, Sarai's slave woman, from where have you come, and where are you going?" And she said, "I am fleeing from the presence of my mistress Sarai."
Genesis 21:20
And God was with the boy, and he grew; and he lived in the wilderness and became an archer.
Genesis 27:40
"And by your sword you shall live, And you shall serve your brother; But it shall come about when you become restless, That you will break his yoke from your neck."
Job 11:12
"An idiot will become intelligent When a wild donkey is born a human.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

[It is] an abomination to kings to commit wickedness,.... The Targum is,

"the abomination of kings are they that work wickedness.''

It should be an abomination to kings to commit wickedness themselves, and those that do it should be abhorred by them, or they should show their resentment at it by removing them from their presence, or by punishing them: and though there have been such kings as David,

Psalms 101:4; yet there are but few such; this is not true of kings in common; and therefore rather expresses what they should be than what they are; but is perfectly applicable to Christ, who loves righteousness and hates iniquity, Psalms 45:7;

for the throne is established by righteousness; this is the support, strength, and security of every kingdom, and of the thrones of kings; and it is with judgment and righteousness that the throne of Christ is established; yea, justice and judgment are the habitation of his throne, Isaiah 9:7.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Proverbs 16:12. It is an abomination to kings, &c. — In all these verses the wise man refers to monarchical government rightly administered. And the proverbs on this subject are all plain.


 
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