Proverbs 22:29
New International Version
Do you see someone skilled in their work? They will serve before kings; they will not serve before officials of low rank.

New Living Translation
Do you see any truly competent workers? They will serve kings rather than working for ordinary people.

English Standard Version
Do you see a man skillful in his work? He will stand before kings; he will not stand before obscure men.

Berean Standard Bible
Do you see a man skilled in his work? He will be stationed in the presence of kings; he will not stand before obscure men.

King James Bible
Seest thou a man diligent in his business? he shall stand before kings; he shall not stand before mean men.

New King James Version
Do you see a man who excels in his work? He will stand before kings; He will not stand before unknown men.

New American Standard Bible
Do you see a person skilled in his work? He will stand before kings; He will not stand before obscure people.

NASB 1995
Do you see a man skilled in his work? He will stand before kings; He will not stand before obscure men.

NASB 1977
Do you see a man skilled in his work? He will stand before kings; He will not stand before obscure men.

Legacy Standard Bible
Do you see a man skilled in his work? He will stand before kings; He will not stand before obscure men.

Amplified Bible
Do you see a man skillful and experienced in his work? He will stand [in honor] before kings; He will not stand before obscure men.

Christian Standard Bible
Do you see a person skilled in his work? He will stand in the presence of kings. He will not stand in the presence of the unknown.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Do you see a man skilled in his work? He will stand in the presence of kings. He will not stand in the presence of unknown men.

American Standard Version
Seest thou a man diligent in his business? he shall stand before kings; He shall not stand before mean men.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
If you have seen a man skilled in his work, he will stand before kings and he will not stand in front of obscure men.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
It is fit that an observant man and one diligent in his business should attend on kings, and not attend on slothful men.

Contemporary English Version
If you do your job well, you will work for a ruler and never be a slave.

Douay-Rheims Bible
Hast thou seen a man swift in his work? he shall stand before kings, and shall not be before those that are obscure.

English Revised Version
Seest thou a man diligent in his business? he shall stand before kings; he shall not stand before mean men.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Do you see a person who is efficient in his work? He will serve kings. He will not serve unknown people.

Good News Translation
Show me someone who does a good job, and I will show you someone who is better than most and worthy of the company of kings.

International Standard Version
Do you see a man skilled in his work? He will work for kings, not unimportant people.

JPS Tanakh 1917
Seest thou a man diligent in his business? he shall stand before kings; He shall not stand before mean men.

Literal Standard Version
Have you seen a man speedy in his business? He stations himself before kings, | He does not station himself before obscure men!

Majority Standard Bible
Do you see a man skilled in his work? He will be stationed in the presence of kings; he will not stand before obscure men.

New American Bible
Do you see those skilled at their work? They will stand in the presence of kings, but not in the presence of the obscure.

NET Bible
Do you see a person skilled in his work? He will take his position before kings; he will not take his position before obscure people.

New Revised Standard Version
Do you see those who are skillful in their work? They will serve kings; they will not serve common people.

New Heart English Bible
Do you see a man skilled in his work? He will serve kings. He won't serve obscure men.

Webster's Bible Translation
Seest thou a man diligent in his business? he shall stand before kings; he shall not stand before mean men.

World English Bible
Do you see a man skilled in his work? He will serve kings. He won’t serve obscure men.

Young's Literal Translation
Hast thou seen a man speedy in his business? Before kings he doth station himself, He stations not himself before obscure men!

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Thirty Sayings of the Wise
28Do not move an ancient boundary stone which your fathers have placed. 29Do you see a man skilled in his work? He will be stationed in the presence of kings; he will not stand before obscure men.

Cross References
Genesis 41:46
Now Joseph was thirty years old when he entered the service of Pharaoh king of Egypt. And Joseph left Pharaoh's presence and traveled throughout the land of Egypt.

Genesis 47:6
the land of Egypt is before you; settle your father and brothers in the best part of the land. They may dwell in the land of Goshen. And if you know of any talented men among them, put them in charge of my own livestock."

1 Samuel 16:21
When David came to Saul and entered his service, Saul admired him greatly, and David became his armor-bearer.

1 Kings 10:8
How blessed are your men! How blessed are these servants of yours who stand continually before you and hear your wisdom!

1 Kings 11:28
Now Jeroboam was a mighty man of valor. So when Solomon noticed that the young man was industrious, he put him in charge of the whole labor force of the house of Joseph.

Proverbs 23:1
When you sit down to dine with a ruler, consider carefully what is set before you,


Treasury of Scripture

See you a man diligent in his business? he shall stand before kings; he shall not stand before mean men.

a man

Proverbs 10:4
He becometh poor that dealeth with a slack hand: but the hand of the diligent maketh rich.

Proverbs 12:24
The hand of the diligent shall bear rule: but the slothful shall be under tribute.

1 Kings 11:28
And the man Jeroboam was a mighty man of valour: and Solomon seeing the young man that he was industrious, he made him ruler over all the charge of the house of Joseph.

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Proverbs 22
1. A good name is more desirable than great wealth














(29) He shall stand before kings.--Shall attend upon them as their minister. (Comp. Genesis 41:46.) This verse is a tristich, containing three lines.

Verse 29 - A tristich follows. Seest thou a man diligent in his business! Mere diligence would not commend a man to high notice unless accompanied by dexterity and skill; and though מָהִיר (mahir) means "quick," it also has the notion of "skilful," and is better here taken in that sense. He shall stand before kings. This phrase means to serve or minister to another (Genesis 41:46; 1 Samuel 16:21, 22; 1 Kings 10:8; Job 1:6). A man thus export is fitted for any, even the highest situation, may well be employed in affairs of state, and enjoy the confidence of kings. He shall not stand before mean men. "Mean" (חְשֻׁכִּים) are the men of no importance, ignobiles, obscure. An intellectual, clever, adroit man would never he satisfied with serving such masters; his ambition is higher; he knows that he is capable of better things. Septuagint, "It must needs be that an observant (ὁρατικὸν) man, and one who is keen in his business, should attend on kings, and not attend on slothful men."



Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
Do you see
חָזִ֡יתָ (ḥā·zî·ṯā)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - second person masculine singular
Strong's 2372: To gaze at, to perceive, contemplate, to have a, vision of

a man
אִ֤ישׁ ׀ (’îš)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 376: A man as an individual, a male person

skilled
מָ֘הִ֤יר (mā·hîr)
Adjective - masculine singular
Strong's 4106: Quick, prompt, ready, skilled

in his work?
בִּמְלַאכְתּ֗וֹ (bim·laḵ·tōw)
Preposition-b | Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 4399: Deputyship, ministry, employment, work, property

He will be stationed
יִתְיַצָּ֑ב (yiṯ·yaṣ·ṣāḇ)
Verb - Hitpael - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 3320: To set or station oneself, take one's stand

in the presence
לִֽפְנֵֽי־ (lip̄·nê-)
Preposition-l | Noun - masculine plural construct
Strong's 6440: The face

of kings;
מְלָכִ֥ים (mə·lā·ḵîm)
Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 4428: A king

he will not
בַּל־ (bal-)
Adverb
Strong's 1077: A failure, nothing, not at all, lest

stand
יִ֝תְיַצֵּב (yiṯ·yaṣ·ṣêḇ)
Verb - Hitpael - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 3320: To set or station oneself, take one's stand

before
לִפְנֵ֥י (lip̄·nê)
Preposition-l | Noun - common plural construct
Strong's 6440: The face

obscure men.
חֲשֻׁכִּֽים׃ (ḥă·šuk·kîm)
Adjective - masculine plural
Strong's 2823: Obscure, low


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OT Poetry: Proverbs 22:29 Do you see a man skilled (Prov. Pro Pr)
Proverbs 22:28
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