Proverbs 16:13

NETBible

The delight of kings 1  is righteous counsel, 2  and they love the one who speaks 3  uprightly. 4 

NIV ©

Kings take pleasure in honest lips; they value a man who speaks the truth.

NASB ©

Righteous lips are the delight of kings, And he who speaks right is loved.

NLT ©

The king is pleased with righteous lips; he loves those who speak honestly.

MSG ©

Good leaders cultivate honest speech; they love advisors who tell them the truth.

BBE ©

Lips of righteousness are the delight of kings; and he who says what is upright is dear to him.

NRSV ©

Righteous lips are the delight of a king, and he loves those who speak what is right.

NKJV ©

Righteous lips are the delight of kings, And they love him who speaks what is right.

KJV
Righteous
<06664>
lips
<08193>
[are] the delight
<07522>
of kings
<04428>_;
and they love
<0157> (8799)
him that speaketh
<01696> (8802)
right
<03477>_.
NASB ©
Righteous
<6664>
lips
<8193>
are the delight
<7522>
of kings
<4428>
, And he who speaks
<1696>
right
<3477>
is loved
<157>
.
LXXM
dekta
<1184> 
A-APN
basilei
<935> 
N-DSM
ceilh
<5491> 
N-APN
dikaia
<1342> 
A-APN
logouv
<3056> 
N-APM
de
<1161> 
PRT
oryouv
<3717> 
A-APM
agapa
<25> 
V-PAI-3S
NET [draft] ITL
The delight
<07522>
of kings
<04428>
is righteous
<06664>
counsel
<08193>
, and they love
<0157>
the one who speaks
<01696>
uprightly
<03477>
.
HEBREW
bhay
<0157>
Myrsy
<03477>
rbdw
<01696>
qdu
<06664>
ytpv
<08193>
Myklm
<04428>
Nwur (16:13)
<07522>
NETBible

The delight of kings 1  is righteous counsel, 2  and they love the one who speaks 3  uprightly. 4 

NET Notes

1 tn The MT has the plural, even though the verb “loves” is masculine singular. The ancient versions and two Hebrew mss read “a king.”

2 tn Heb “lips of righteousness”; cf. NAB, NIV “honest lips.” The genitive “righteousness” functions as an attributive adjective. The term “lips” is a metonymy of cause for what is said: “righteous speech” or “righteous counsel.”

3 tn The MT has the singular participle followed by the plural adjective (which is here a substantive). The editors of BHS wish to follow the ancient versions in making the participle plural, “those who speak uprightly.”

4 sn The verse is talking about righteous kings, of course – they love righteousness and not flattery. In this proverb “righteous” and “upright” referring to what is said means “what is right and straight,” i.e., the truth (cf. NCV).