Proverbs 28:2
New International Version
When a country is rebellious, it has many rulers, but a ruler with discernment and knowledge maintains order.

New Living Translation
When there is moral rot within a nation, its government topples easily. But wise and knowledgeable leaders bring stability.

English Standard Version
When a land transgresses, it has many rulers, but with a man of understanding and knowledge, its stability will long continue.

Berean Standard Bible
A land in rebellion has many rulers, but a man of understanding and knowledge maintains order.

King James Bible
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.

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 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.

NASB 1995
By the transgression of a land many are its princes, But by a man of understanding and knowledge, so it endures.

NASB 1977
By the transgression of a land many are its princes, But by a man of understanding and knowledge, so it endures.

Legacy Standard Bible
By the transgression of a land many are its princes, But by a man who understands, who knows, so it endures.

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.

Christian Standard Bible
When a land is in rebellion, it has many rulers, but with a discerning and knowledgeable person, it endures.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
When a land is in rebellion, it has many rulers, but with a discerning and knowledgeable person, it endures.

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.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
Among the evil of the Earth are its many Rulers, and the righteous children of men who know righteousness endure.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
By reason of the sins of ungodly men quarrels arise; but a wise man will quell them.

Contemporary English Version
In time of civil war there are many leaders, but a sensible leader restores law and order.

Douay-Rheims Bible
For the sine 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.

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.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
When a country is in revolt, it has many rulers, but only with a person who has understanding and knowledge will it last a long time.

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.

International Standard Version
When a land transgresses, it gains a succession of leaders, but with an understanding and knowledgeable man, its stability endures.

JPS Tanakh 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.

Literal Standard Version
By the transgression of a land its heads are many, | And by an understanding man, | Who knows right—it is prolonged.

Majority Standard Bible
A land in rebellion has many rulers, but a man of understanding and knowledge maintains order.

New American Bible
If a land is rebellious, its princes will be many; but with an intelligent and wise ruler there is stability.

NET Bible
When a country is rebellious it has many princes, but by someone who is discerning and knowledgeable order is maintained.

New Revised Standard Version
When a land rebels it has many rulers; but with an intelligent ruler there is lasting order.

New Heart English Bible
In rebellion, a land has many rulers, but order is maintained by a man of understanding and knowledge.

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.

World English Bible
In rebellion, a land has many rulers, but order is maintained by a man of understanding and knowledge.

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.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Boldness of the Righteous
1The wicked flee when no one pursues, but the righteous are as bold as a lion. 2A land in rebellion has many rulers, but a man of understanding and knowledge maintains order. 3A destitute leader who oppresses the poor is like a driving rain that leaves no food.…

Cross References
1 Kings 16:8
In the twenty-sixth year of Asa's reign over Judah, Elah son of Baasha became king of Israel, and he reigned in Tirzah two years.

2 Kings 15:8
In the thirty-eighth year of Azariah's reign over Judah, Zechariah son of Jeroboam became king of Israel, and he reigned in Samaria six months.

Proverbs 11:11
By the blessing of the upright a city is built up, but by the mouth of the wicked it is torn down.


Treasury of Scripture

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.

the transgression

1 Kings 15:25,28
And Nadab the son of Jeroboam began to reign over Israel in the second year of Asa king of Judah, and reigned over Israel two years…

1 Kings 16:8-29
In the twenty and sixth year of Asa king of Judah began Elah the son of Baasha to reign over Israel in Tirzah, two years…

2 Kings 15:8-31
In the thirty and eighth year of Azariah king of Judah did Zachariah the son of Jeroboam reign over Israel in Samaria six months…

but

Genesis 45:5-8
Now therefore be not grieved, nor angry with yourselves, that ye sold me hither: for God did send me before you to preserve life…

2 Chronicles 32:20-26
And for this cause Hezekiah the king, and the prophet Isaiah the son of Amoz, prayed and cried to heaven…

Job 22:28-30
Thou shalt also decree a thing, and it shall be established unto thee: and the light shall shine upon thy ways…

by a man, etc.

Jump to Previous
Continue Country Endures Established Fire Heads Increased Intelligent Maintained Maintains Order Princes Prolonged Rebellion Rebellious Right Rulers Sin Stability State Thereof Transgresses Transgression Troubles Understanding Wisdom
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Continue Country Endures Established Fire Heads Increased Intelligent Maintained Maintains Order Princes Prolonged Rebellion Rebellious Right Rulers Sin Stability State Thereof Transgresses Transgression Troubles Understanding Wisdom
Proverbs 28
1. general observations of impiety and integrity














(2) For the transgression of a land many are the princes thereof.--Comp. 1Kings 15:27, sqq., and indeed the whole history of the kingdom of Israel as compared with the regular succession of the family of David in accordance with the promise of Psalm 89:33.

The state thereof shall be prolonged--i.e., its settled condition. Or it may signify "right" (i.e., authority)" continues."

Verse 2. - For the transgression of a land many are the princes thereof. This implies that the wickedness of a nation is punished by frequent changes of rulers, who impose new laws, taxes, and other burdens, which greatly oppress the people; but regarding the antithesis in the second hemistich, we take the meaning to be that when iniquity, injustice, apostasy, and other evils abound, a country becomes the prey of pretenders and partisans striving for the supremacy. The history of the northern kingdom of Israel, especially in the disastrous period succeeding the death of Jeroboam II, affords proof of the truth of the statement (comp. Hosea 8:4). Septuagint, "Owing to the sins of ungodly men, quarrels (κρίσεις, lawsuits) arise." But by a man of understanding and knowledge the state thereof shall be prolonged. "The state" is the stability, the settled condition of the country. The word is כֵן (ken), here a substantive, equivalent to "station," "base." Umbreit, Nowack, and others translate it, "justice," "authority," "order." When a wise and religious man is at the helm of state, justice continues, lives, and works; such a man introduces an clement of enduring good into a land (comp. Proverbs 21:22; Ecclesiastes 9:15). The good kings Ass, Jehoshaphat, Uzziah, and Hezekiah had long and prosperous reigns. Septuagint, "But a clever man (πανοῦργος) will quench them (quarrels)."

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
A land
אֶ֭רֶץ (’e·reṣ)
Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 776: Earth, land

in rebellion
בְּפֶ֣שַֽׁע (bə·p̄e·ša‘)
Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 6588: Transgression

has many
רַבִּ֣ים (rab·bîm)
Adjective - masculine plural
Strong's 7227: Much, many, great

rulers,
שָׂרֶ֑יהָ (śā·re·hā)
Noun - masculine plural construct | third person feminine singular
Strong's 8269: Chieftain, chief, ruler, official, captain, prince

but a man
וּבְאָדָ֥ם (ū·ḇə·’ā·ḏām)
Conjunctive waw, Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 120: Ruddy, a human being

of understanding
מֵבִ֥ין (mê·ḇîn)
Verb - Hifil - Participle - masculine singular
Strong's 995: To separate mentally, understand

[and] knowledge
יֹ֝דֵ֗עַ (yō·ḏê·a‘)
Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular
Strong's 3045: To know

maintains order.
יַאֲרִֽיךְ׃ (ya·’ă·rîḵ)
Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 748: To be, long


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OT Poetry: Proverbs 28:2 In rebellion a land has many rulers (Prov. Pro Pr)
Proverbs 28:1
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