GOVERNMENT 11 – Proverbs on Government

GOVERNMENT 11 - Proverbs on Government

 

Consequences of evil, injustice, lawlessness, violence

Pr 1:31-32 rejection of wisdom & lawfulness > self-destruction
Therefore they shall eat the fruit of their way and be sated with their own devices. For waywardness kills the simple, and the complacency of fools destroys them;
  • Those rejecting wisdom in the beginning will be forfeit it for later.
  • Choosing evil will bring down evil on oneself … ‘eat the fruit of their way’, ‘be sated with their own devices’ … stress on the natural consequences of choices (not punishment)
  • What I brought on others will be be brought on me
Pr 13:23 injustice > poverty
“The field of the poor may yield much food, but it is swept away through injustice.”
  • Injustice produces frustration of effort and labor, hopelessness, paralysis, poverty.
Pr 16:27 evil > destruction
“Scoundrels concoct evil, and their speech is like a scorching fire.”
  • Evil, injustice, lawlessness destroys not only the immediate but far beyond by discouragement, fear, paralysis, hopelessness
Pr 16:29 evil > enticement, temptation of others to evil
“The violent entice their neighbors, and lead them in a way that is not good.”
  • One person’s wrong makes it harder for everybody else to do the right thing, requiring forgiveness, letting go of offense, perseverance, acting in the opposite spirit, accepting loss
Pr 17:11 evil > rebellion, counter-violence
“Evil people seek only rebellion, but a cruel messenger will be sent against them.”
  • Evil and injustice always undermines the rule of law, stability of a government, fostering rebellion.
  • Rebellion triggers counter-rebellion > cycle of coups, violence, less and less option to come back to lawfulness
Pr 19:26 evil > shame on family
“Those who do violence to their father and chase away their mother are children who cause shame and bring reproach.”
  • disrespect and violence to parents is like the ultimate breakdown of loyalties
  • children choosing evil bring shame on their family
Pr 28:1-4 evil > fear, rebellion, lawlessness


“The wicked flee when no one pursues, but the righteous are as bold as a lion. 2 When a land rebels it has many rulers; but with an intelligent ruler there is lasting order. 3 A ruler who oppresses the poor is a beating rain that leaves no food. 4 Those who forsake the law praise the wicked, but those who keep the law struggle against them.”

  • 1 strength, courage, boldness comes from God to those who obey and trust God.
  • 2 If land rebels / transgresses > many rulers without knowledge, no stability. Sin > cycle of coups and counter-coups, increasing violence, illegitimacy, instability, lawlessness.
  • 2 many rulers parallel? Or serially many, constant changes, …
  • promote sound truth to bring stability. Man of understanding and knowledge > stability
  • “The life of the land is perpetuated in righteousness” inscription written on the Hawaiian Parliament building.
  • 3 corruption, lack of just judgment, lawlessness, injustice, oppression … severely injures the poor as the most vulnerable. Government does not have to feed the poor, but to bring about law and order, then the poor will be able to feed themselves.
  • 4 lawlessness always encourages lawlessness. Lawfulness encourages further lawfulness. Even if all break the law, the fact that I don’t break it still counts, if I also do it, I will strengthen the evil, the system, the injustice. My act counts. Nothing is neutral.

Pr 29:2 evil, lawlessness > negative consequences for all
“When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice; but when the wicked rule, the people groan.”
  • All profit from a godly government. Most will be favored, a few receive needed correction. Do not sacrifice the silent many to the demanding few.
  • The righteous must get involved, must elect good people into authority.
  • Character is a prerequisite for power
Pr 29:22 anger > strife
“One given to anger stirs up strife, and the hothead causes much transgression.
  • Lack of self-control, indulging of anger produces conflict and transgression, making it harder again for everybody affected to do the right thing
Pr 30:32-33 evil, provocation > strife
“If you have been foolish, exalting yourself, or if you have been devising evil, put your hand on your mouth. 33 For as pressing milk produces curds, and pressing the nose produces blood, so pressing anger produces strife.
  • Devising evil is inexcusable, exalting oneself is stupid … teaching by cause and effect
Pr 29:18 prophecy > lawfulness
“Where there is no prophecy, the people cast off restraint, but happy are those who keep the law.
• Lawfulness blesses those who obey it, but also all members of society. • Lawfulness is maintained by vision, knowledge of God and his word, prophecy, hope, calling
Do not choose the way of evil
Pr 21:3 righteousness & justice over sacrifice
“To do righteousness and justice is more acceptable to the LORD than sacrifice.”
  • The heart of God revealed: not religiosity but a godly life granting justice to others
Pr 1:11-19 refuse the call to evil and violence
If they say, “Come with us, let us lie in wait for blood; let us wantonly ambush the innocent; like Sheol let us swallow them alive and whole, like those who go down to the Pit. … throw in you lot among us … my child, do not walk in their ways, keep your foot from their paths; for their feet run to evil, and they hurry to shed blood. For in vain is the net baited while the bird is looking on; yet they lie in wait – to kill themselves! and set an ambush – for their own lives! Such is the end of all who are greedy for gain; it takes away the life of its possessors.
  • Wanton choosing of lawlessness for unjust gain is evil, will not keep its promise but rather will backfire. It is destructive and self-destructive … Jesus in Mt 26:52 ‘all who take the sword will die by the sword.
  • Probably a turning to violence out of great violation and injustice endured is seen differently by God, but a no-reason choosing of violence is very much condemned
Pr 3:29 do not choose evil & violence
Do not plan harm against your neighbor who lives trustingly beside you.30 Do not quarrel with anyone without cause, when no harm has been done to you. 31 Do no envy the violent and do not choose any of their ways; 32 for the perverse are an abomination to the LORD, but the upright are in his confidence. 33 The LORD’s curse is on the wicked, but he blesses the abode of the righteous.
  • As before: a no-reason initiating of violence against the innocent (trusting neighbor) is very much condemned.
  • The fact that I ‘may the ability or power to pull off something gives me no justification for doing it.
  • Do not envy the violent … they seems to be ‘immune’ and triumphant for a time, but it will be limited and not enduring (see next theme)
Pr 4:14-19 do not choose evil & violence
“Do not enter the path of the wicked, and do not walk in the way of evildoers. 15 Avoid it; do not go on it; turn away from it and pass on. 16 For they cannot sleep unless they have done wrong; they are robbed of sleep unless they have made someone stumble. 17 For the eat the bread of wickedness and drink the wine of violence. 18 But the path of the righteous is like the light of dawn, which shines brighter and brighter until full day. 19 The way of the wicked is like deep darkness; they do not now what they stumble over.”
  • Intense 6x repeated command: “do not enter, do not walk, avoid, do not go, turn way, pass on”
  • Powerful contrasting pictures: Path like the light of down, shining brighter and brighter until full day versus deep darkness, do not know what they stumbled over.
Pr 5:22-23 evil, lawlessness hurts the perpetrators


“The iniquities of the wicked ensnare them, and they are caught in the toils of their sin. 23 They die for lack of discipline, and because of their great folly they are lost.”

  • Evil is self-deceptive, self-ensnaring … seeming smart but really a trap and danger.
Pr 11:9-11 joy of all at justice, destruction by evil
“With their mouths the godless would destroy their neighbors, but by knowledge the righteous are delivered. 10 When it goes well with the righteous, the city rejoices; and when the wicked perish, there is jubilation. 11 By the blessing of the upright a city is exalted, but it is overthrown by the mouth of the wicked.”
  • 9 what knowledge delivers the righteous and how? Knowledge of God (giving steadiness, endurance) or knowledge of judicial process (knowing law itself, having wisdom in how to proceed, speak) or both?
  • 10, 11 the lawfulness of people brings security, steadiness, joy, blessing … to all.
Pr 26:27 do not start evil
“Whoever digs a pit will fall into it, and a stone will come back on the one who starts it rolling.”
Pr 21:10 do not do evil against a neighbor
“The souls of the wicked desire evil, their neighbors find no mercy in their eyes.
Pr 26:18 do not deceive a neighbor
“Like a maniac who shoots deadly firebrands and arrows, 10 so is one who deceives a neighbor and says, “I am only joking!”
Pr 30:10 do not slander a servant to master
“Do not slander a servant to a master, or the servant will curse you …will be held guilty.”
Pr 30:14 warning of the violent


“There are those whose teeth are swords, whose teeth are knives, to devour the poor from of the earth, the needy from among mortals.

Pr 24:29 Vindictiveness is not godly
“Do not say, “I will do to others as they have done to me; I will pay them back for what they have done.”
  • Though understandable and though ‘eye for an eye’, the higher choice is forgiveness, release, attempting a path of redemption.
Pr 28:4 keeping the law = to struggle against evil


“Those who forsake the law praise the wicked, but those who keep the law struggle against them.”

• Even if all break the law, the fact that I don’t break it still counts, if I also do it, I will strengthen the evil / injustice. My act counts and has an influence. Nothing is neutral.

Evil will not prevail, rather be judged – Righteousness will prevail

Pr 2:18-22 evil, adultery will not prevail, upright will prevail


18 for her (adulteress) way leads down to death, and her paths to the shades; 19 those who go to her never come back, nor do they regain the paths of life. 20 Therefore walk in the way of the good, and keep to the paths of the just; 21 For the upright will abide in the land, and the innocent will remain in it; 22 but the wicked will be cut off from the land, and the treacherous will be rooted out of it.

  • Choose the way of the good, the paths of the just > protection, paths of life, stability
  • In the long run: the upright and innocent will abide in the land, not the wicked and treacherous
Pr 10:24-25, 29-32 evil will not prevail
“What the wicked dread will come upon them, but the desire of the righteous will be granted. 25 When the tempest passes the wicked are no more, but the righteous are established forever. … 29 The way of he LORD is a stronghold for the upright, but destruction for evildoers. 30 The righteous will never be removed, but the wicked will not remain in the land. 31 The mouth of the righteous brings forth wisdom, but the perverse tongue will be cut off. 32 The lips of the righteous know what is acceptable
Pr 11:21 evil will be judged

Be assured the wicked will not go unpunished, but those who are righteous will escape.

Pr 12:3 evil will not prevail, remain

“No one finds security by wickedness, but the root of the righteous will never be moved.

Pr 12:7 evil will be judged

“the wicked are overthrown and are no more, but the house of the righteous will stand.”

Pr 12:13 evil will be ensnared, judged

“The evil are ensnared by the transgression of their lips, but the righteous escape from trouble.”

Pr 14:19 evil will be humbled

“The evil bow down before the good, the wicked at the gates of the righteous.”

Pr 14:32 evil overthrows itself, integrity is saved

The wicked are overthrown by evildoing, but the righteous find a refuge in their integrity.

Pr 14:34 righteousness > honor

“Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people.

  • Good reputation does not come with image-polishing, but with justice, lawfulness, righteousness.
Pr 17:13 returning evil for good will be judged

“Evil will not depart from the house of one who returns evil for good.”

Pr 21:7 violence will be judged

The violence of the wicked will sweep them away because they refuse to do what is just

Pr 21:12 wickedness will be judged by God

The Righteous One observes the house of the wicked; he casts the wicked down to ruin

Pr 21:18 evil will be a ransom for the righteous

“The wicked is a ransom for the righteous, and the faithless for the upright.”

Pr 24:15-16 evil will be judged

“Do not lie in wait like an outlaw against the home of the righteous; do not violence to the place where the righteous live; 16 For though they fall seven times, they will rise again; but the wicked are overthrown by calamity.”

Pr 24:19-20 evil will be judged, do not envy evil

“Do not fret because of evildoers. Do not envy the wicked; 20 for the evil have no future; the lamp of the wicked will go out.”

Pr 24:1 do not envy the evil

“Do not envy the wicked, nor desire o be with them, 2 for their minds devise violence, and their lips talk of mischief.”

  • In the long run (and it takes endurance to see it) the good will last, and the evil will fall.
  • The fact that this is so highly repeated speaks itself of the need for endurance. Very often what we see is not this, rather that evil seems to prevail, effective, unaddressed, un-judged and triumphant. We often feel ‘stupid’ for being obedient.
  • God hammers it home that he will see to it that this is not the final reality, he (and we) will see it judged and removed.
Pr 21:15 justice done > evil dismayed
“When justice is done, it is a joy to the righteous, but dismay to evildoers.”
Pr 29:16 evil will be judged

When the wicked are in authority, transgression increases, but the righteous will look upon their downfall.

  • Need for justice and lawfulness so that the evil would be dismayed, so that evil would not increase.
  • To say: to punish doesn’t undo the evil is not fully correct. Yes, real actions have real consequences. But punishment is needed to bring peace, to bring a degree of justice, to deter future perpetrators, to maintain godly values.
  • I cannot produce what I’m not. Evil rulers will produce more evil. To not control evil means that it will re-enforce itself. Put righteous into authority by vote.

Passages around a king

Pr 31:1-9 queen mother teaching her son
“The words of King Lemuel. An oracle that his mother taught him: 2 No, my son! No, son of my womb! No, son of my vows! 3 Do not give your strength to women, your ways to those who destroy kings. 4 It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine or for rulers to desire strong drink; 5 or else they will drink and forget what has been decreed, and will pervert the rights of tall the afflicted. 6 Give strong drink to one who is perishing, … 8 Speak out for those who cannot speak, for the rights of all the destitute. 9 Speak out, judge righteously, defend the rights of the poor and needy.”
  • Affirmation of biblical principle: chief duty of government is just judgment and maintaining lawfulness  > “don’t forget what has been decreed!”
  • As always there is a special focus to maintain the rights of the most vulnerable, here described as afflicted, those who cannot speak, destitute, poor and needy.
  • Government officials or leaders cannot be given to self-indulgence or addiction, as this lifestyle destroys character, reliability, efficiency in work. In the NT also church leaders are required to be sober and not addicted (Tit 1:6-7).
  • Government officials or leaders cannot be given to self-indulgence of the sexual kind (Deu 17:17) for the same reasons as above, adding: wrong view of women, impossible family situations, bad upbringing of new generation, lack of discipleship of next king.
Pr 16:10 king's just judgment

“Inspired decisions are on the lips of a king; his mouth does not sin in judgment.”

  • seems like a very confident statement, needs to be read in context with other verses.
Pr 20:8 king gives just judgment, winnows evil
“A king who sits on the throne of judgment winnows all evil with his eyes.
Pr 16:12-15 king loves righteousness > is established by that
“It is an abomination to kings to do evil, for the throne is established by righteousness. 13 Righteous lips are the delight of a king, and he loves those who speak what is right.
Pr 25:3-5 king preferring godly people > established
“Like the heavens for height, like the earth for depth, so the mind of kings is unsearchable. 4 Take away the dross from the silver, and the smith has material for a vessel; 5 take away the wicked from the presence of the king, and his throne will be established in righteousness.
Pr 29:12 king preferring evil people > corruption
If a ruler listens to falsehood, all his officials will be wicked.
Pr 20:28 king's throne upheld by righteousness
“Loyalty and faithfulness preserve the king, and his throne is upheld by righteousness.”
  • again: that’s what government should be: giving just judgment, winnowing evil, hating evil, doing righteousness, preferring those who do right.
  • Important role of king is who he surrounds himself with, sycophants, conscienceless implementers or truthful, godly people who may also challenge him.
  • Otherwise: will collect pleasers, who say only what leader wants to hear, positively selecting for the lairs > all officials, wicked.
  • Importance of true information, not rumors, not biased, not disconnect with people, must stay in touch and be approachable by all. Must encourage criticism. It must be safe to criticize.
Pr 29:4 king's justice versus king's greed

“By justice a king gives stability to the land, but one who makes heavy exactions ruins it (overthrows it).”

  • justice, all being equal under law, will bring stability, decrease crime and discontentment, lasting
  • Taking gifts, favoring the sycophants destabilizes, opens the door to injustice, discontentment, crime > ruins the land. King has greatest single influence of all officers, for good or bad, though all officers are accountable for their behavior.
Pr 29:14 justice to poor > established
“If a king judges the poor with equity, his throne will be established forever.”
  • The king must judge with equity, show no partiality.
  • As always special focus on the vulnerable in society (here: the poor).
  • If he does: God will establish, bless and sustain him, short-term and long-term
Pr 24:21-22 king's power to punish > fear king
“My child, fear the LORD and the king, and do not disobey either of them; 22 for disaster comes from them suddenly, and who knows the ruin that both can bring?”
Pr 19:12 king's anger
“A king’s anger is like the growling of a lion, but his favor is like dew on he grass.”
Pr 20:2 king's anger

“The dread anger of a king is like the growling of a lion; anyone who provokes him to anger forfeits life itself.”

Pr 16:14-15 king's favor > life, spring rain
“A king’s wrath is a messenger of death, and whoever is wise will appease it. 15 In the light of a king’s face there is life, and his favor is like the clouds that bring the spring rain.”
Pr 22:11 king's favor on pure & gracious people

“Those who love a pure heart and are gracious in speech will have the king as a friend.”

  • To our ears a bit much deferring to king. Yet a reality: the higher the government position the more influential the person is, for good or worse.
Pr 29:26 no over-importance on king
“Many seek the favor of a ruler, but it is from the LORD that one gets justice.
  • Counter-balancing the above a bit: ultimately we need to not deify government but look to God.
Pr 23:1-3 no greed or overconfidence in king's presence

“When you sit down to eat with a ruler, observe carefully what is before you, 2 and put a knife to your throat if you have a big appetite. 3 Do not desire the ruler’s delicacies, for they are deceptive food.”

Pr 25:6-7 no self-importance in king's presence
“Do not put yourself forward in the king’s presence or stand in the place of the great; 7 for it is better to be told, “Come up here than to be put lower in the presence of a noble.”
Pr 25:15 king, patience
“With patience a ruler may be persuaded and a soft tongue can break bones.”
  • Addressing people about how to behave around the powerful: self-control, carefulness, humility …
  • This is to counteract the ‘heady feeling’ of mixing with powerful people and resulting self-embarrassments.
  • Patience, commitment, steady communication, persuasion will accomplish much.

Judiciary, courts, false witness, justice

Pr 6:16-19 false witness, innocent bloodshed = abominations
“There are six things that the LORD hates, seven that are an abomination to him: 17 haughty eyes, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, 18 a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that hurry to run to evil, 19 a lying witness who testifies falsely, and one so sows discord in a family.”
Pr 12:17, 19 true versus false witness, honest evidence
“Whoever speaks the truth gives honest evidence, but a false witness speaks deceitfully. … 19 Truthful lips endure forever, but a lying tongue lasts only a moment.”
Pr 21:28 true versus false witness
“A false witness will perish, but a good listener will testify successfully.”
Pr 14:25 true versus false witness
“A truthful witness saves lives, but one who utters lies is a betrayer.”
Pr 24:28 false witness
“Do not be a witness against your neighbor without cause, do not deceive with your lips.”
Pr 25:16 false witness
“Like a war club, sword, sharp arrow is one who bears false witness against a neighbor.”
Pr 19:5, 9 false witness judged

“A false witness will not go unpunished, and a liar will not escape … 9 A false witness will not go unpunished, and a liar will perish.”

  • God loves and demands justice (just judgment).
  • False witness is a chief way to pervert justice (false implication or false proofs of innocence) and is condemned strongly.
  • Importance of honest evidence. Court trials must operate on careful investigation of facts, events, witnesses etc. Truth can be known. Justice can be done.
Pr 19:28 false witness mocks justice

“A worthless witness mocks at justice, and the mouth of the wicked devours iniquity.”

  • Mocking … to put no importance, to make a joke of, to put down, … small, cheap evil bringing down good systems (like stealing farmer’s apples, making bomb threats, throwing first trash, one person stealing then suspicion falling on all, …)
  • It is a sin that affects the whole community.
  • Hardened heart, will not listen, callousness, … won’t listen or can’t hear any more. Invariably in a few months they will want justice for some injury to themselves.
  • What is in my mouth? Complaints, bitterness, evil, mocking? The power of the tongue for evil.
  • People that pay no importance to justice, only to their will being done, they cannot think outside themselves, …
Pr 17:15 do not justify evil, do not condemn the righteous
“One who justifies the wicked and one who condemns the righteous are both alike an abomination to the LORD.”
Pr 17:26 do not condemn the innocent
“To impose a fine on the innocent is not right, or to flog the noble for their integrity.”
Pr 24:23-25 no partiality, perversion of justice
“Partiality in judging is not good. 24 Whoever says to the wicked, “You are innocent.” will be cursed.”
  • God hates, curses partiality in court, condemnation of innocent and clearing of the guilty.
Pr 18:17 cross-examination, hearing both sides

“The one who first states a case seems right, until the other comes and cross-examines.”

  • So true. Need to hear both sides (De 1:16-17) carefully, not regarding small and great.
Pr 25:7-10 hasty court case
“What your eyes have seen 8 do not hastily bring into court; for what will you do in the end, when your neighbor puts you to shame? 9 Argue your case with your neighbor directly, and do not disclose an other’s secret: 10 or else someone who hears you will bring shame upon you and your ill repute will have no end.”
  • Do not be quick to believe the worst. Try to solve things under four eyes.
  • Do not jam courts with unnecessary cases. Going to court is serious, and expensive, so don’t do it lightly.

Wisdom for just ruling in government

Pr 1:3 wisdom > knowing what it just and right
“… for gaining instruction in wise dealing, righteousness, justice and equity.”
  • Only by fear of the LORD and pursuit of godly wisdom with I know the what is just and right.
  • Wisdom, insight, godliness out of relationship with God, and out of a commitment to do what is right.
Pr 2:3-15 Importance of wisdom to stay on paths of justice
“3 If you indeed cry out for insight … 7 he stores up sound wisdom for the upright; … 8 he is a shield to those who walk blamelessly; guarding the paths of justice and preserving the way of his faithful ones. 9 Then you will understand righteousness and justice and equity, every good path; 10 for wisdom will come into your heart, and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul; 11 prudence will watch over you; and understanding will guard you. 12 It will save you from the way of evil, from those who speak perversely; 13 who forsake the paths of uprightness to walk in the ways of darkness, 14 who rejoice in doing evil and delight in the perverseness of evil; 15 those whose paths are crooked, and who are devious in their ways.”
  • If I pursue wisdom and insight, if I am committed to right …
    • then I will experience God’s protection (him ‘guarding the paths of justice’)
    • then I will ‘understand righteousness, justice, equity, every good path’ … what a promise!
    • then wisdom, knowledge, prudence, understanding will guard me, watch over me, and save me from the path of evil, perverseness, darkness, joy in evil, crooked, devious
Pr 8:13-16 fear of the LORD, wisdom, by it rulers govern rightly

“The fear of the LORD is hatred of evil. Pride and arrogance and the way of evil and perverted speech I hate. 14 I have good advice and sound wisdom; I have insight, I have strength. 15 By me kings reign, and rulers decree what is just; 16 By me rulers rule, and nobles, all who govern rightly.”

  • Applicable for Executive and Judiciary.

Government’s role of maintaining rights

Pr 15:25 widow's boundaries
“The LORD tears down the house of the proud, but maintains the widow’s boundaries.”
Pr 22:28, 23:10-11 boundaries protected
“28 Do not remove the ancient landmark that your ancestors set up.” … “10 Do not remove an ancient landmark or encroach on the fields of orphans, 11 for their redeemer is strong; he will plead their cause against you.”
  • Importance of maintaining rights of the vulnerable (here: widow)
  • Importance of maintaining anybody’s property rights. Importance of land as basis.
Pr 22:22-23 no violence against poor

“Do not rob the poor because they are poor, or crush the afflicted at the gate, 23 for the LORD pleads their cause and despoils of life those who despoil them.”

  • no abuse of power, especially of the most vulnerable (here: poor, afflicted).
  • God himself stands guarantee.
Pr 25:26 do not give way before the evil

“Like a muddied spring or a polluted fountain are the righteous who give way before the wicked.”

  • Command to not yield, to stand ground, to be active against the evil.
  • No passive ‘can’t influence them’, whatever is doable must be done from personal law keeping and integrity to active resistance.
Pr 24:10-12 must save people from death

“If you faint in the day of adversity, your strength being small; 11 if you hold back from rescuing those taken away to death, those who go staggering to the slaughter; 12 if you say, “Look we did not know this” – does not he who weighs the heart perceive it? Does not he who keeps watch over your soul know it? And will he not repay all according to their deeds?”

  • There is a sin of omission, not just sins of commission.
  • Obligation to stand up for those ‘taken away to death’.
  • I cannot claim ignorance. I cannot claim ‘impotence.
  • Personal accountability to God for this.

Other verses

Pr 29:27 evil and righteous are an abomination to each other

“The unjust are an abomination to the righteous, but the upright are an abomination to the wicked.”

Pr 30:21-22 promotion to leadership of slave

“Under three things the earth trembles; and four it cannot bear up: 22 a slave when he becomes king …”

Pr 10:6, 11 mouth of the wicked conceals violence

“Blessings are on the head of the righteous, but the mouth of he wicked conceal violence. … 11 The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life, but the mouth of the wicked conceals violence.”

Pr 16:7 at peace with enemies

“When the ways of people please the LORD, he causes even their enemies to be at peace with them.”

Pr 18:19 offended allies

“An ally offended is stronger than a city; such quarreling is like the bars of a castle.”

Pr 24:5-6 military, war


“Wise warriors are mightier than strong ones, and those who have knowledge than those who have strength; 6 for by wise guidance you can wage your war, and in abundance of counselors there is victory.”

GOVERNMENT