Proverbs 29:12 · King James Version
Proverbs 29:12 in the Original Hebrew
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Proverbs 29:12 in Other Translations
| KJV | If a ruler hearken to lies, all his servants are wicked. |
|---|---|
| WEB | If a ruler listens to lies, all of his officials are wicked. |
| ASV | If a ruler hearkeneth to falsehood, All his servants are wicked. |
| YLT | A ruler who is attending to lying words, All his ministers are wicked. |
| WBT | If a ruler hearkeneth to lies, all his servants [are] wicked. |
| DBY | If a ruler hearken to lying words, all his servants are wicked. |
Commentary on Proverbs 29:12
Expositions from classic Bible commentators.
John Gill · Proverbs 29:12
If a ruler hearken to lies,.... To men that tell them in order to soothe and flatter him, or to hurt the character and reputation of others, that they may raise their own: rulers should not listen to and encourage such sort of persons; for, as lying lips do not become a prince, so it is not right to have liars about him; David would not suffer such to dwell in his court, Psa 101:7;
all his servants are wicked; or the greatest part of them: for a ruler of such a disposition will take none but such into his service, that flatter him, and calumniate others; and such a conduct, being pleasing and agreeable to him, is a temptation to his ministers to act the same wicked part; as is a prince, such are his courtiers; his example has a great influence upon them.
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown · Proverbs 29:12
His servants imitate him.
Read Jamieson, Fausset & Brown's full commentary on Proverbs 29 →
Cross References for Proverbs 29:12
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Questions about Proverbs 29:12
What does Proverbs 29:12 say?
Proverbs 29:12 in the King James Version reads: “If a ruler hearken to lies, all his servants are wicked.” Read it in the full context of Proverbs 29, alongside the classic commentary on this page.
Where is Proverbs 29:12 found in the Bible?
Proverbs 29:12 is in the book of Proverbs, chapter 29, verse 12, in the Old Testament.
What Bible translation is Proverbs 29:12 shown in?
This is the King James Version (KJV), a public-domain translation. You can compare how other translations render Proverbs 29:12 in the table on this page.
Note, 1. It is a great sin in any, especially in rulers, to hearken to lies; for thereby they not only give a wrong judgment themselves of persons and things, according to the lies they give credit to, but they encourage others to give wrong informations. Lies will be told to those that will hearken to them; but the receiver, in this case, is as bad as the thief. 2. Those that do so will have all their servants wicked. All their servants will appear wicked, for they will have lies told of them; and they will be wicked, for they will tell lies to them. All that have their ear will fill their ear with slanders and false characters and representations; and so if princes, as well as people, will be deceived, they shall be deceived, and, instead of devolving the guilt of their own false judgments upon their servants that misinformed them, they must share in their servants' guilt, and on them will much of the blame lie for encouraging such misinformations and giving countenance and ear to them.