King James Version

Proverbs 28:2

For the transgression of a land many are the princes thereof: but by a man of understanding and knowledge the state thereof shall be prolonged.

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Hebrew

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בְּפֶ֣שַֽׁעbefeshain rebellionפֶּשַׁעpreposition, noun, common, masculine, singular, construct — “in rebellion”, the of-form, joined to the next wordH6588a revolt (national, moral or religious)rebellion, sin, transgression, trespass.אֶ֭רֶץeretsearthאֶרֶץnoun, common, both genders, singular, absolute — “earth”, the ordinary formH776the earth (at large, or partitively a land)[idiom] common, country, earth, field, ground, land, [idiom] natins, way, [phrase] wilderness, world.רַבִּ֣יםrabimaboundרַבadjective, adjective, masculine, plural, absolute — “abound”, the ordinary formH7227abundant (in quantity, size, age, number, rank, quality)(in) abound(-undance, -ant, -antly), captain, elder, enough, exceedingly, full, great(-ly, man, one), increase, long (enough, (time)), (do, have) many(-ifold, things, a time), (ship-)master, mighty, more, (too, very) much, multiply(-tude),…שָׂרֶ֑יהָsareyhacaptainשַׂרnoun, common, masculine, plural, construct, suffix, pronominal, 3rd person, feminine, singular — “captain”, the of-form, joined to the next wordH8269a head person (of any rank or class)captain (that had rule), chief (captain), general, governor, keeper, lord,(-task-)master, prince(-ipal), ruler, steward.וּבְאָדָ֥םuveadamand in personאָדָםconjunction, preposition, noun, common, masculine, singular, absolute — “and in person”, the ordinary formH120ruddy i.e. a human being (an individual or the species, mankind, etc.)[idiom] another, [phrase] hypocrite, [phrase] common sort, [idiom] low, man (mean, of low degree), person.מֵבִ֥יןmevinunderstandבִּיןverb, hiphil, participle, absolute — “understand”, a verb used as a describing wordH995to separate mentally (or distinguish), i.e.(generally) understandattend, consider, be cunning, diligently, direct, discern, eloquent, feel, inform, instruct, have intelligence, know, look well to, mark, perceive, be prudent, regard, (can) skill(-full), teach, think, (cause, make to, get, give, have) und…יֹ֝דֵ֗עַyodeaknowיָדַעverb, qal, participle, absolute — “know”, a verb used as a describing wordH3045to know (properly, to ascertain by seeing); used in a great variety of senses, figuratively, literally, euphemistically and inferentially (including observation, care, recognition; and causatively, instruction, designation, punishment, etc.)acknowledge, acquaintance(-ted with), advise, answer, appoint, assuredly, be aware, (un-) awares, can(-not), certainly, comprehend, consider, [idiom] could they, cunning, declare, be diligent, (can, cause to) discern, discover, endued with…כֵּ֣ןkenas... asכֵּןparticle, demonstrative — “as... as”H3651properly, set upright; hence (figuratively as adjective) just; but usually (as adverb or conjunction) rightly or so (in various applications to manner, time and relation; often with other particles)[phrase] after that (this, -ward, -wards), as... as, [phrase] (for-) asmuch as yet, [phrase] be (for which) cause, [phrase] following, howbeit, in (the) like (manner, -wise), [idiom] the more, right, (even) so, state, straightway, such (th…יַאֲרִֽיךְyaarikhelongאָרַךְverb, hiphil, imperfect, 3rd person, masculine, singular — “long”, an unfinished actionH748to be (causative, make) long (literally or figuratively)defer, draw out, lengthen, (be, become, make, pro-) long, [phrase] (out-, over-) live, tarry (long).

Jewish translation (JPS 1917)

For the transgression of a land many are the princes thereof; but by a man of understanding and knowledge established order shall long continue.

Compare Public-Domain Translations

The King James Version remains the text of this page and the canonical URL.

American Standard Version (1901)

For the transgression of a land many are the princes thereof; But by men of understanding and knowledge the state thereof shall be prolonged.

Young’s Literal Translation

By the transgression of a land many [are] its heads. And by an intelligent man, Who knoweth right — it is prolonged.

World English Bible

In rebellion, a land has many rulers, but order is maintained by a man of understanding and knowledge.

Darby Translation

By the transgression of a land many are the princes thereof; but by a man of understanding [and] of knowledge, [its] stability is prolonged.

Douay-Rheims

For the sins of the land many are the princes thereof: and for the wisdom of a man, and the knowledge of those things that are said, the life of the prince shall be prolonged.

Jewish Publication Society (1917)

For the transgression of a land many are the princes thereof; but by a man of understanding and knowledge established order shall long continue.

Brenton’s Septuagint (1851), English

By reason of the sins of ungodly men quarrels arise; but a wise man will quell them.

Septuagint (Brenton’s Greek, 1851)

Διʼ ἁμαρτίας ἀσεβῶν κρίσεις ἐγείρονται, ἀνὴρ δὲ πανοῦργος κατασβέσει αὐτάς.