Proverbs 16:13

Old Testament Wisdom/Poetry ASV (1901)

What does Proverbs 16:13 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “Righteous lips are the delight of kings; And they love him that speaketh right.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

Righteous lips are the delight of kings; And they love him that speaketh right.
Proverbs 16:13 — American Standard Version

Context — Proverbs 16

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
13Righteous lips are the delight of kings; And they love him that speaketh right.

What do historical commentaries say?

Jamieson, Fausset & Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“A specification of the general sentiment of Pro 16:12.”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“Pro 14:35, Pro 22:11; Psa 101:5-7 Proverbs 16:14”
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Keil & Delitzsch
C. F. Keil & F. Delitzsch · Commentary on the Old Testament · 19th-century historical commentary
“History is full of such warning examples, and therefore this proverb continues to hold up the mirror to princes. Well-pleasing to kings are righteous lips, And whoever speaketh uprightly is loved. Rightly the lxx ἀγαπᾶ, individ. plur., instead of the plur. of genus, מלכים; on the contrary, Jerome and Luther give to the sing. the most general subject (one lives), in which case it must be distinctly said, that that preference of the king for the people who speak out the truth, and just what they think, is shared in by every one. צדק, as the property of the שׂפתי, accords with the Arab. ṣidḳ, truth as the property of the lasân (the tongue or speech). ישׁרים, from ישׁר, means recta, as…”
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Related study paths

Sources and verification