Proverbs 29:26
New International Version
Many seek an audience with a ruler, but it is from the LORD that one gets justice.

New Living Translation
Many seek the ruler’s favor, but justice comes from the LORD.

English Standard Version
Many seek the face of a ruler, but it is from the LORD that a man gets justice.

Berean Standard Bible
Many seek the ruler’s favor, but a man receives justice from the LORD.

King James Bible
Many seek the ruler's favour; but every man's judgment cometh from the LORD.

New King James Version
Many seek the ruler’s favor, But justice for man comes from the LORD.

New American Standard Bible
Many seek the ruler’s favor, But justice for mankind comes from the LORD.

NASB 1995
Many seek the ruler’s favor, But justice for man comes from the LORD.

NASB 1977
Many seek the ruler’s favor, But justice for man comes from the LORD.

Legacy Standard Bible
Many seek the face of a ruler, But justice for man comes from Yahweh.

Amplified Bible
Many seek the ruler’s favor, But justice for man comes from the LORD.

Christian Standard Bible
Many desire a ruler’s favor, but a person receives justice from the LORD.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Many seek a ruler’s favor, but a man receives justice from the LORD.

American Standard Version
Many seek the ruler's favor; But a man's judgment cometh from Jehovah.

Contemporary English Version
Many try to make friends with a ruler, but justice comes from the LORD.

English Revised Version
Many seek the ruler's favour: but a man's judgment cometh from the LORD.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Many seek an audience with a ruler, but justice for humanity comes from the LORD.

Good News Translation
Everybody wants the good will of the ruler, but only from the LORD can you get justice.

International Standard Version
Many seek a ruler's favor, but justice for a man comes from the LORD.

Majority Standard Bible
Many seek the ruler’s favor, but a man receives justice from the LORD.

NET Bible
Many people seek the face of a ruler, but it is from the LORD that one receives justice.

New Heart English Bible
Many seek the ruler's favor, but a man's justice comes from the LORD.

Webster's Bible Translation
Many seek the ruler's favor; but every man's judgment cometh from the LORD.

World English Bible
Many seek the ruler’s favor, but a man’s justice comes from Yahweh.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
Many are seeking the face of a ruler, "" And the judgment of each [is] from YHWH.

Young's Literal Translation
Many are seeking the face of a ruler, And from Jehovah is the judgment of each.

Smith's Literal Translation
Many are seeking the face of the ruler, and from Jehovah a man's judgment.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Many seek the face of the prince: but the judgment of every one cometh forth from the Lord.

Catholic Public Domain Version
Many demand the face of the leader. But the judgment of each one proceeds from the Lord.

New American Bible
Many curry favor with a ruler, but it is from the LORD that one receives justice.

New Revised Standard Version
Many seek the favor of a ruler, but it is from the LORD that one gets justice.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Many seek the ruler's favor; but a man's judgment comes from the LORD.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
Many seek the face of a Ruler and the judgment of a man proceeds from LORD JEHOVAH.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
Many seek the ruler's favour; But a man's judgment cometh from the LORD.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
Many wait on the favour of rulers; but justice comes to a man from the Lord.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Stiff-Necked will Be Destroyed
25The fear of man is a snare, but whoever trusts in the LORD is set securely on high. 26Many seek the ruler’s favor, but a man receives justice from the LORD. 27An unjust man is detestable to the righteous, and one whose way is upright is detestable to the wicked.…

Cross References
Psalm 118:8-9
It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to trust in man. / It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to trust in princes.

Jeremiah 17:5-7
This is what the LORD says: “Cursed is the man who trusts in mankind, who makes mere flesh his strength and turns his heart from the LORD. / He will be like a shrub in the desert; he will not see when prosperity comes. He will dwell in the parched places of the desert, in a salt land where no one lives. / But blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, whose confidence is in Him.

Isaiah 2:22
Put no more trust in man, who has only the breath in his nostrils. Of what account is he?

Daniel 2:21
He changes the times and seasons; He removes kings and establishes them. He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to the discerning.

1 Samuel 2:7-8
The LORD sends poverty and wealth; He humbles and He exalts. / He raises the poor from the dust and lifts the needy from the ash heap. He seats them among princes and bestows on them a throne of honor. For the foundations of the earth are the LORD’s, and upon them He has set the world.

2 Chronicles 20:6
and said, “O LORD, God of our fathers, are You not the God who is in heaven, and do You not rule over all the kingdoms of the nations? Power and might are in Your hand, and no one can stand against You.

Job 12:16-25
True wisdom and power belong to Him. The deceived and the deceiver are His. / He leads counselors away barefoot and makes fools of judges. / He loosens the bonds placed by kings and fastens a belt around their waists. ...

Psalm 146:3-5
Put not your trust in princes, in mortal man, who cannot save. / When his spirit departs, he returns to the ground; on that very day his plans perish. / Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the LORD his God,

Isaiah 31:1
Woe to those who go down to Egypt for help, who rely on horses, who trust in their abundance of chariots and in their multitude of horsemen. They do not look to the Holy One of Israel; they do not seek the LORD.

Micah 7:5-7
Do not rely on a friend; do not trust in a companion. Seal the doors of your mouth from her who lies in your arms. / For a son dishonors his father, a daughter rises against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. A man’s enemies are the members of his own household. / But as for me, I will look to the LORD; I will wait for the God of my salvation. My God will hear me.

Matthew 10:28
Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Instead, fear the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell.

Romans 13:1-2
Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which is from God. The authorities that exist have been appointed by God. / Consequently, whoever resists authority is opposing what God has set in place, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves.

John 19:10-11
So Pilate said to Him, “Do You refuse to speak to me? Do You not know that I have authority to release You and authority to crucify You?” / Jesus answered, “You would have no authority over Me if it were not given to you from above. Therefore the one who handed Me over to you is guilty of greater sin.”

Acts 5:29
But Peter and the other apostles replied, “We must obey God rather than men.

1 Peter 2:13-17
Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every human institution, whether to the king as the supreme authority, / or to governors as those sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to praise those who do right. / For it is God’s will that by doing good you should silence the ignorance of foolish men. ...


Treasury of Scripture

Many seek the ruler's favor; but every man's judgment comes from the LORD.

seek

Proverbs 19:6
Many will intreat the favour of the prince: and every man is a friend to him that giveth gifts.

Psalm 20:9
Save, LORD: let the king hear us when we call.

a ruler's favour or face of a ruler

Proverbs 16:7
When a man's ways please the LORD, he maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him.

Proverbs 19:21
There are many devices in a man's heart; nevertheless the counsel of the LORD, that shall stand.

Proverbs 21:1
The king's heart is in the hand of the LORD, as the rivers of water: he turneth it whithersoever he will.

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Approval Audience Cause Decision Desired Face Favor Favour Gets Great Judgment Justice Numbers Right Ruler Ruler's Seek Seeking
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Approval Audience Cause Decision Desired Face Favor Favour Gets Great Judgment Justice Numbers Right Ruler Ruler's Seek Seeking
Proverbs 29
1. observations of public government
15. and of private
22. Of anger, pride, thievery, cowardice and corruption














Many seek the ruler’s favor
The phrase "Many seek the ruler’s favor" reflects a common human tendency to seek approval and benefits from those in positions of power. The Hebrew word for "seek" is "בָּקַשׁ" (baqash), which implies a diligent search or earnest desire. Historically, rulers held significant authority and influence, and gaining their favor could lead to personal advancement or protection. This pursuit of favor is not inherently wrong, but it highlights a reliance on human authority rather than divine providence. In a conservative Christian perspective, this serves as a reminder that while earthly leaders can offer temporary benefits, they are not the ultimate source of justice or righteousness.

but a man receives justice from the LORD
The contrast in this phrase emphasizes the sovereignty and ultimate authority of God. The Hebrew word for "justice" is "מִשְׁפָּט" (mishpat), which encompasses judgment, rights, and proper order. It signifies a divine standard that surpasses human judgment. The use of "receives" indicates that justice from the LORD is not something earned by human effort but is granted by God's grace and righteousness. In the biblical context, the LORD is depicted as the ultimate judge who sees beyond human appearances and motives. This assurance of divine justice encourages believers to trust in God's perfect will and timing, rather than relying solely on human systems or authorities. From a conservative Christian viewpoint, this verse reassures the faithful that true justice and vindication come from God, who is just and righteous in all His ways.

(26) Many seek the ruler's favour.--And to be advanced by him; but his approval is of little value, for "every man's judgment cometh from the Lord;" it is He who really decides each man's worth. (Comp. 1Samuel 16:7; 1Corinthians 4:5.)

Verse 26. - Many seek the ruler's favour; literally, the countenance of the ruler. A variation of Proverbs 19:6. There are numbers who are always trying, by means fair or surreptitious, to curry favour with a great man who has anything to bestow (comp. 1 Kings 10:24; Psalm 45:12). But every man's judgment cometh from the Lord. The real and only reliable judgment comes, not from an earthly prince (who may be prejudiced and is certainly fallible), but from the Lord, whose approval or disapproval is final and indisputable. Therefore one should seek to please him rather than any man, however great and powerful (comp. 1 Samuel 16:7; Isaiah 49:4; 1 Corinthians 4:5).

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
Many
רַ֭בִּים (rab·bîm)
Adjective - masculine plural
Strong's 7227: Much, many, great

seek
מְבַקְשִׁ֣ים (mə·ḇaq·šîm)
Verb - Piel - Participle - masculine plural
Strong's 1245: To search out, to strive after

the ruler’s
מוֹשֵׁ֑ל (mō·wō·šêl)
Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular
Strong's 4910: To rule, have dominion, reign

favor,
פְּנֵי־ (pə·nê-)
Noun - masculine plural construct
Strong's 6440: The face

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

receives justice
מִשְׁפַּט־ (miš·paṭ-)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 4941: A verdict, a sentence, formal decree, divine law, penalty, justice, privilege, style

from the LORD.
וּ֝מֵיְהוָ֗ה (Yah·weh)
Conjunctive waw, Preposition-m | Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel


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OT Poetry: Proverbs 29:26 Many seek the ruler's favor (Prov. Pro Pr)
Proverbs 29:25
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