Proverbs 28:16
New International Version
A tyrannical ruler practices extortion, but one who hates ill-gotten gain will enjoy a long reign.

New Living Translation
A ruler with no understanding will oppress his people, but one who hates corruption will have a long life.

English Standard Version
A ruler who lacks understanding is a cruel oppressor, but he who hates unjust gain will prolong his days.

Berean Standard Bible
A leader who lacks judgment is also a great oppressor, but he who hates dishonest profit will prolong his days.

King James Bible
The prince that wanteth understanding is also a great oppressor: but he that hateth covetousness shall prolong his days.

New King James Version
A ruler who lacks understanding is a great oppressor, But he who hates covetousness will prolong his days.

New American Standard Bible
A leader who is a great oppressor lacks understanding, But a person who hates unjust gain will prolong his days.

NASB 1995
A leader who is a great oppressor lacks understanding, But he who hates unjust gain will prolong his days.

NASB 1977
A leader who is a great oppressor lacks understanding, But he who hates unjust gain will prolong his days.

Legacy Standard Bible
A leader who lacks discernment abounds in oppressions, But he who hates greedy gain will prolong his days.

Amplified Bible
A leader who is a great oppressor lacks understanding and common sense [and his wickedness shortens his days], But he who hates unjust gain will [be blessed and] prolong his days.

Christian Standard Bible
A leader who lacks understanding is very oppressive, but one who hates dishonest profit prolongs his life.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
A leader who lacks understanding is very oppressive, but one who hates dishonest profit prolongs his life.

American Standard Version
The prince that lacketh understanding is also a great oppressor; But he that hateth covetousness shall prolong his days.

Contemporary English Version
A heartless leader is a fool, but anyone who refuses to get rich by cheating others will live a long time.

English Revised Version
The prince that lacketh understanding is also a great oppressor: but he that hateth covetousness shall prolong his days.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
A leader without understanding taxes [his people] heavily, but those who hate unjust gain will live longer.

Good News Translation
A ruler without good sense will be a cruel tyrant. One who hates dishonesty will rule a long time.

International Standard Version
A Commander-in-Chief who is a cruel oppressor lacks understanding, but whoever hates unjust gain will live longer.

Majority Standard Bible
A leader who lacks judgment is also a great oppressor, but he who hates dishonest profit will prolong his days.

NET Bible
The prince who is a great oppressor lacks wisdom, but the one who hates unjust gain will prolong his days.

New Heart English Bible
A prince who lacks understanding is a cruel oppressor, but one who hates ill-gotten gain will prolong his days.

Webster's Bible Translation
The prince that wanteth understanding is also a great oppressor: but he that hateth covetousness shall prolong his days.

World English Bible
A tyrannical ruler lacks judgment. One who hates ill-gotten gain will have long days.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
A leader lacking understanding multiplies oppressions, "" Whoever is hating dishonest gain prolongs days.

Young's Literal Translation
A leader lacking understanding multiplieth oppressions, Whoso is hating dishonest gain prolongeth days.

Smith's Literal Translation
A prince wanting understanding and great in oppressions: he hating gain shall lengthen the days.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
A prince void of prudence shall oppress many by calumny: but he that hateth covetousness, shall prolong his days.

Catholic Public Domain Version
A leader destitute of prudence will oppress many through false accusations. But whoever hates avarice shall prolong his days.

New American Bible
The less prudent the rulers, the more oppressive their deeds. Those who hate ill-gotten gain prolong their days.

New Revised Standard Version
A ruler who lacks understanding is a cruel oppressor; but one who hates unjust gain will enjoy a long life.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
A ruler who lacks understanding is also a great oppressor; but he who hates deceit shall prolong his life.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
Many are the griefs of the Ruler lacking a mind and whoever hates deceit prolongs his days.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
The prince that lacketh understanding is also a great oppressor; But he that hateth covetousness shall prolong his days.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
A king in need of revenues is a great oppressor: but he that hates injustice shall live a long time.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Boldness of the Righteous
15Like a roaring lion or a charging bear is a wicked ruler over a helpless people. 16A leader who lacks judgment is also a great oppressor, but he who hates dishonest profit will prolong his days. 17A man burdened by bloodguilt will flee into the Pit; let no one support him.…

Cross References
Isaiah 3:12-15
Youths oppress My people, and women rule over them. O My people, your guides mislead you; they turn you from your paths. / The LORD arises to contend; He stands to judge the people. / The LORD brings this charge against the elders and leaders of His people: “You have devoured the vineyard; the plunder of the poor is in your houses. ...

Ezekiel 22:27-29
Her officials within her are like wolves tearing their prey, shedding blood, and destroying lives for dishonest gain. / Her prophets whitewash these deeds by false visions and lying divinations, saying, ‘This is what the Lord GOD says,’ when the LORD has not spoken. / The people of the land have practiced extortion and committed robbery. They have oppressed the poor and needy and have exploited the foreign resident without justice.

Jeremiah 22:13-17
“Woe to him who builds his palace by unrighteousness, and his upper rooms without justice, who makes his countrymen serve without pay, and fails to pay their wages, / who says, ‘I will build myself a great palace, with spacious upper rooms.’ So he cuts windows in it, panels it with cedar, and paints it with vermilion. / Does it make you a king to excel in cedar? Did not your father have food and drink? He administered justice and righteousness, and so it went well with him. ...

Micah 3:1-4
Then I said: “Hear now, O leaders of Jacob, you rulers of the house of Israel. Should you not know justice? / You hate good and love evil. You tear the skin from my people and strip the flesh from their bones. / You eat the flesh of my people after stripping off their skin and breaking their bones. You chop them up like flesh for the cooking pot, like meat in a cauldron.” ...

Psalm 72:4
May he vindicate the afflicted among the people; may he save the children of the needy and crush the oppressor.

Isaiah 10:1-2
Woe to those who enact unjust statutes and issue oppressive decrees, / to deprive the poor of fair treatment and withhold justice from the oppressed of My people, to make widows their prey and orphans their plunder.

Jeremiah 5:26-28
For among My people are wicked men; they watch like fowlers lying in wait; they set a trap to catch men. / Like cages full of birds, so their houses are full of deceit. Therefore they have become powerful and rich. / They have grown fat and sleek, and have excelled in the deeds of the wicked. They have not taken up the cause of the fatherless, that they might prosper; nor have they defended the rights of the needy.

Ezekiel 34:2-4
“Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel. Prophesy and tell them that this is what the Lord GOD says: ‘Woe to the shepherds of Israel, who only feed themselves! Should not the shepherds feed their flock? / You eat the fat, wear the wool, and butcher the fattened sheep, but you do not feed the flock. / You have not strengthened the weak, healed the sick, bound up the injured, brought back the strays, or searched for the lost. Instead, you have ruled them with violence and cruelty.

Matthew 23:25-28
Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. / Blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and dish, so that the outside may become clean as well. / Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of dead men’s bones and every kind of impurity. ...

Luke 11:39-42
Then the Lord said, “Now you Pharisees clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside you are full of greed and wickedness. / You fools! Did not the One who made the outside make the inside as well? / But give as alms the things that are within you, and behold, everything will be clean for you. ...

James 5:1-6
Come now, you who are rich, weep and wail over the misery to come upon you. / Your riches have rotted and moths have eaten your clothes. / Your gold and silver are corroded. Their corrosion will testify against you and consume your flesh like fire. You have hoarded treasure in the last days. ...

1 Timothy 6:9-10
Those who want to be rich, however, fall into temptation and become ensnared by many foolish and harmful desires that plunge them into ruin and destruction. / For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. By craving it, some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many sorrows.

1 Peter 5:2-3
Be shepherds of God’s flock that is among you, watching over them not out of compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you; not out of greed, but out of eagerness; / not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock.

Matthew 20:25-28
But Jesus called them aside and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their superiors exercise authority over them. / It shall not be this way among you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, / and whoever wants to be first among you must be your slave— ...

Mark 10:42-45
So Jesus called them together and said, “You know that those regarded as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their superiors exercise authority over them. / But it shall not be this way among you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, / and whoever wants to be first must be the slave of all. ...


Treasury of Scripture

The prince that wants understanding is also a great oppressor: but he that hates covetousness shall prolong his days.

prince

1 Kings 12:10,14
And the young men that were grown up with him spake unto him, saying, Thus shalt thou speak unto this people that spake unto thee, saying, Thy father made our yoke heavy, but make thou it lighter unto us; thus shalt thou say unto them, My little finger shall be thicker than my father's loins…

Nehemiah 5:15
But the former governors that had been before me were chargeable unto the people, and had taken of them bread and wine, beside forty shekels of silver; yea, even their servants bare rule over the people: but so did not I, because of the fear of God.

Ecclesiastes 4:1
So I returned, and considered all the oppressions that are done under the sun: and behold the tears of such as were oppressed, and they had no comforter; and on the side of their oppressors there was power; but they had no comforter.

he that

Exodus 18:21
Moreover thou shalt provide out of all the people able men, such as fear God, men of truth, hating covetousness; and place such over them, to be rulers of thousands, and rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens:

Isaiah 33:15,16
He that walketh righteously, and speaketh uprightly; he that despiseth the gain of oppressions, that shaketh his hands from holding of bribes, that stoppeth his ears from hearing of blood, and shutteth his eyes from seeing evil; …

Jeremiah 22:15-17
Shalt thou reign, because thou closest thyself in cedar? did not thy father eat and drink, and do judgment and justice, and then it was well with him? …

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Covetousness Desire Enjoy Gain Great Hates Hateth Ill-Gotten Intelligence Judgment Lacks Life Multiplieth Oppressions Oppressor Prince Profit Prolong Ruler Sense Tyrannical Understanding Unjust Void Wanteth
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Covetousness Desire Enjoy Gain Great Hates Hateth Ill-Gotten Intelligence Judgment Lacks Life Multiplieth Oppressions Oppressor Prince Profit Prolong Ruler Sense Tyrannical Understanding Unjust Void Wanteth
Proverbs 28
1. general observations of impiety and integrity














A leader who lacks judgment
The Hebrew word for "leader" here is "נָגִיד" (nagid), which often refers to a prince or ruler. This term implies someone with authority and responsibility over others. The phrase "lacks judgment" uses the Hebrew "חֲסַר תְּבוּנָה" (chaser tevunah), meaning devoid of understanding or discernment. In a biblical context, judgment is not merely about making decisions but involves wisdom, justice, and the fear of the Lord. A leader without these qualities can lead to chaos and suffering for those under his rule. Historically, Israel's kings were expected to rule with divine wisdom, as seen in Solomon's request for wisdom to govern his people (1 Kings 3:9). The absence of such judgment results in oppression, as the leader fails to act in the best interest of the people.

is also a great oppressor
The Hebrew word for "oppressor" is "מַעֲשֵׁק" (ma'asek), which conveys the idea of someone who exploits or crushes others. The term "great" (רַב, rav) emphasizes the extent of the oppression. In the biblical narrative, oppression is often condemned as it goes against God's justice and care for the marginalized. Leaders who lack judgment often resort to oppression as they prioritize their power and wealth over the well-being of their subjects. This is a warning against tyranny and the abuse of power, which is a recurring theme in the prophetic literature where God calls out the leaders of Israel for their unjust practices (Isaiah 10:1-2).

but he who hates dishonest profit
The phrase "hates dishonest profit" uses the Hebrew "שֹׂנֵא בֶּצַע" (sone betsa), where "betsa" refers to gain acquired through unjust means, such as bribery or corruption. The verb "hates" (שֹׂנֵא, sane) is a strong term indicating a deep aversion. In the wisdom literature, righteousness is often associated with integrity and fairness. The Bible consistently teaches that God detests dishonest gain (Proverbs 11:1) and calls His people to live justly. A leader who despises such profit aligns himself with God's values, promoting justice and equity.

will prolong his days
The promise of prolonged days is a common biblical motif associated with living in accordance with God's commandments (Deuteronomy 5:33). The Hebrew "יַאֲרִיךְ יָמִים" (ya'arikh yamim) suggests not only a long life but a life of blessing and fulfillment. In the context of leadership, this implies that a ruler who governs with integrity and justice will enjoy stability and prosperity. This reflects the biblical principle that righteousness exalts a nation (Proverbs 14:34) and that God blesses those who walk in His ways. The verse concludes with a hopeful promise that contrasts the destructive path of oppression with the life-giving path of justice and righteousness.

(16) A prince that wanteth understanding is also a great oppressor.--Thereby losing the love of his people, and at the same time impoverishing them; thus killing the goose that laid the golden eggs. He also by his misdeeds draws down upon himself God's anger in the shape of an early death. Comp. the woe pronounced upon Jehoiakim (Jeremiah 22:13, sqq.).

Verse 16. - The prince that wanteth understanding is also a great oppressor; literally, and rich in oppression. Ewald, Delitzsch, Nowack, and others take the verse, not as a statement, but as a warning addressed to the ruler, as we have so many addressed to a son, and as the author of the Book of Wisdom calls upon the judges of the earth to listen to his admonitions. They therefore render thus: "O prince, void of understanding, but rich in oppression!" The wording and accentuation of the passage confirm this view. Caher renders, "A prince that wants understanding increases his exactions." The want of intelligence makes a prince cruel and tyrannical and callous to suffering: not possessing the wisdom and prudence necessary for right government, he defrauds his subjects, treats them unjustly, and causes great misery. See the prophet's denunciation of Shallum and Jehoiakim for these very crimes (Jeremiah 22:13-19). Septuagint, "A king wanting revenues is a great oppresser (συκοφάντης)." He that hateth covetousness shall prolong his days (Proverbs 15:27). The prince addressed is thus warned that his oppressive acts will be visited upon him judicially; that only a ruler who deals with his subjects liberally and equitably can attain to old age, and that his conduct will shorten his life. An early death is reckoned as a token of God's indignation. The second hemistich Caher translates, "But he who hates lucre shall reign long." Septuagint, "He who hateth iniquity shall live a long time." (For "covetousness" (betsa), see on Proverbs 1:19.)

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
A leader
נָגִ֗יד (nā·ḡîḏ)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 5057: A commander, civil, military, religious, honorable themes

who lacks
חֲסַ֣ר (ḥă·sar)
Adjective - masculine singular construct
Strong's 2638: Needy, lacking, in want of

understanding
תְּ֭בוּנוֹת (tə·ḇū·nō·wṯ)
Noun - feminine plural
Strong's 8394: Intelligence, an argument, caprice

[is] also a great
וְרַ֥ב (wə·raḇ)
Conjunctive waw | Adjective - masculine singular construct
Strong's 7227: Much, many, great

oppressor,
מַעֲשַׁקּ֑וֹת (ma·‘ă·šaq·qō·wṯ)
Noun - feminine plural
Strong's 4642: Extortionate act

but he who hates
שֹׂ֥נֵא (śō·nê)
Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular construct
Strong's 8130: To hate

dishonest profit
בֶ֝֗צַע (ḇe·ṣa‘)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 1215: Gain made by violence, unjust gain, profit

will prolong
יַאֲרִ֥יךְ (ya·’ă·rîḵ)
Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 748: To be, long

[his] days.
יָמִֽים׃ (yā·mîm)
Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 3117: A day


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OT Poetry: Proverbs 28:16 A tyrannical ruler lacks judgment (Prov. Pro Pr)
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