Proverbs Chapter 8 verse 16 Holy Bible
By me princes rule, And nobles, `even' all the judges of the earth.
read chapter 8 in ASV
Through me chiefs have authority, and the noble ones are judging in righteousness.
read chapter 8 in BBE
by me princes rule, and nobles, all the judges of the earth.
read chapter 8 in DARBY
By me princes rule, and nobles, even all the judges of the earth.
read chapter 8 in KJV
read chapter 8 in WBT
By me princes rule; Nobles, and all the righteous rulers of the earth.
read chapter 8 in WEB
By me do chiefs rule, and nobles, All judges of the earth.
read chapter 8 in YLT
Pulpit Commentary
Pulpit CommentaryVerse 16. - Princes; here sarim, "leaders." All the judges of the earth. These words stand without a conjunction, in apposition to what has preceded, by what is called asyndeton summativum (Proverbs 1:21), and gather in one view kings, princes, and leaders. Thus the Book of Wisdom, which speaks of the duties of rulers, commences by addressing of κρίνοντες τὴν γῆν, "ye that are judges of the earth." In the East judgment of causes was an integral part of a monarch's duties. The reading of the Authorized Version is supported by the Septuagint, which gives κρατοῦσι γῆς. The Vulgate, Syriac, and Chaldee road, צדק, "justice," in place of ארצ, "earth;" but this seems to have been an alteration of the original text derived from some idea of the assertion there made being too comprehensive or universal. Nowack compares Psalm 2:10 and Psalms 148:11, "Kings of the earth, and all people; princes, and all judges of the earth." The Fathers have taken these verses as spoken by God, and as asserting his supremacy and the providential ordering of human government, according to St. Paul's saying, "There is no power but of God; and the powers that be are ordained of God" (Romans 13:1; see St. Augustine, 'De Civit. Dei,' 5:19).
Ellicott's Commentary
Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers(16) All the judges of the earth.--By the aid of heavenly wisdom only can they give right and just judgments, and so fulfil the high office delegated to them by God Himself, from the possession of which they are themselves termed "gods" (Exodus 22:28; Psalm 82:1). For the same reason kings, as ruling by His authority, have the same title accorded to them (Psalm 45:6).
