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Proverbs 20:8
A king that sitteth in the throne of judgment scattereth away all evil with his eyes.

Proverbs 25:23
The north wind driveth away rain: sodoth an angry countenance a backbiting tongue.

1 Samuel 22:8
That all of you have conspired against me, andthere is none that sheweth me that my son hath made a league with the son of Jesse, andthere is none of you that is sorry for me, or sheweth unto me that my son hath stirred up my servant against me, to lie in wait, as at this day?

all his officials will be wicked
The phrase suggests a trickle-down effect of corruption. When a leader is swayed by deceit, it creates an environment where dishonesty thrives among subordinates. This mirrors the biblical narrative of King Saul, whose disobedience and insecurity led to a corrupt administration (1 Samuel 22:6-19). The term "wicked" in Hebrew often denotes moral and ethical deviation from God's law, emphasizing the spiritual implications of corrupt leadership. This concept is echoed in the New Testament, where Jesus warns against the "blind leading the blind" (Matthew 15:14), illustrating the broader impact of ungodly leadership. The phrase serves as a cautionary note on the importance of truth and righteousness in governance, aligning with the biblical call for leaders to be shepherds of integrity (1 Peter 5:2-3).

Proverbs 29:12 opens by focusing on the person in power: “If a ruler…”. God holds leaders to high standards because their choices shape an entire community (Romans 13:1).

• Leadership is a trust.Proverbs 16:12 reminds us, “Kings detest wrongdoing, for a throne is established through righteousness.”

• When the leader embraces righteousness, people thrive (Proverbs 29:2).

• Scripture shows how faithful rulers bless a nation—consider Joseph inGenesis 41 or Hezekiah in2 Kings 18–19.

The verse next pinpoints the ruler’s ear: “…listens to lies…”

• Listening is more than hearing; it is receiving, believing, and acting on what is said (Matthew 13:9).

• Lies come from the enemy, “for he is a liar and the father of lies” (John 8:44).

•Proverbs 17:4 warns, “A wicked man listens to evil lips; a liar gives ear to a destructive tongue.”

• When a leader accepts falsehood—flattery, distorted reports, gossip—his moral compass shifts off true north (Isaiah 59:14–15).

“…all his officials…” highlights the circle surrounding the ruler.

• Advisors imitate the tone their leader sets. When David fled from Saul, the king’s courtiers echoed Saul’s paranoia (1 Samuel 24:9).

• Rehoboam’s kingdom split because he chose counselors who told him what he wanted to hear (1 Kings 12:8–16).

• Influence flows downward: “Remove the wicked from the king’s presence, and his throne will be established in righteousness” (Proverbs 25:5).

The tragic outcome: “…will be wicked.”

• Corruption spreads quickly; “Bad company corrupts good character” (1 Corinthians 15:33).

• Ahab’s readiness to heed Jezebel’s deceit produced officials who framed Naboth (1 Kings 21).

• When truth is sidelined, injustice multiplies—bribery, perverted verdicts, oppression of the poor (Proverbs 28:16;Micah 3:1–3).

• Only repentance and a return to truth can break the cycle (2 Chronicles 7:14).

Proverbs 29:12 teaches that a leader’s ear dictates a nation’s heart. If a ruler welcomes deceit, his team adopts the same darkness, and unrighteousness becomes institutional. When a leader instead seeks and loves truth, righteousness flourishes throughout the ranks, bringing blessing to everyone under his authority.

"Componitur orbis
Regis ad exemplum: nec sic inflectere sensus
Humanos edicta valent, ut vita regentis.
Mobile mutatur semper cum principe vulgus."

"By the king's precedent
The world is ordered; and men's minds are moved
Less by stern edicts than their ruler's life.
The fickle crowd aye by the prince is swayed." Cicero, 'De Leg.,' 3:13, "Ut enim cupiditatibus principum et vitiis iufici solet tota civitas, sic emendari et corrigi continentia." And ibid., 14, "Quo perniciosius de republica merentur vitiosi principes, quod non solum vitia concipiunt ipsi, sod ea infundunt in civitatem; neque solum obsunt, ipsi quod corrumpuntur, sed etiam quod corrumpunt, plusque exemplo, quam peccato, nocent."

Parallel Commentaries ...