Proverbs 24:21
My son, fear thou the Lord and the king: and meddle not with them that are given to change:
†My sonne, feare thou the LORD, and the king: and medle not with them that are giuen to change.
Original 1611 marginTranslation notes and cross-references are kept distinct.
- †Hebrew wordingHeb. changers.
Narration uses the Pure Cambridge Edition.
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From verse 21
- Romans 13:1–7Rank 1 from verse 21
1LET every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God.
2Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation.
3For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same:
4For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil.
5Wherefore ye must needs be subject, not only for wrath, but also for conscience sake.
6For for this cause pay ye tribute also: for they are God’s ministers, attending continually upon this very thing.
7Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honour to whom honour.
1¶ Let euery soule bee subiect vnto the higher powers: For there is no power but of God. The powers that be, are ‖ordeined of God.
2Whosoeuer therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist, shall receiue to themselues damnation.
3For rulers are not a terrour to good works, but to the euill. Wilt thou then not bee afraide of the power? doe that which is good, and thou shalt haue praise of the same.
4For hee is the minister of God to thee for good: but if thou do that which is euill, be afraid: for he beareth not the sword in vaine: for he is the minister of God, a reuenger to execute wrath vpon him that doeth euill.
5Wherfore ye must needs be subiect, not onely for wrath, but also for conscience sake.
6For, for this cause pay you tribute also: for they are Gods ministers, attending continually vpon this very thing.
7Render therfore to all their dues, tribute to whom tribute is due, custome to whome custome, feare to whome feare, honour to whom honour.
- 1 Kings 12:16Rank 2 from verse 21
16¶ So when all Israel saw that the king hearkened not unto them, the people answered the king, saying, What portion have we in David? neither have we inheritance in the son of Jesse: to your tents, O Israel: now see to thine own house, David. So Israel departed unto their tents.
16¶ So when all Israel saw that the king hearkned not vnto them, the people answered the king, saying, What portion haue we in Dauid? neither haue we inheritance in the sonne of Iesse: to your tents, O Israel: nowe see to thine owne house, Dauid. So Israel departed vnto their tents.
- 1 Peter 2:13–17Rank 3 from verse 21
13Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake: whether it be to the king, as supreme;
14Or unto governors, as unto them that are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers, and for the praise of them that do well.
15For so is the will of God, that with well doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men:
16As free, and not using your liberty for a cloke of maliciousness, but as the servants of God.
17Honour all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honour the king.
13Submit your selues to euery ordinance of man for the Lordes sake, whether it be to the King, as supreme,
14Or vnto gouernours, as vnto them that are sent by him, for the punishment of euil doers, and for the praise of them that doe well.
15For so is the will of God, that with well doing yee may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men.
16As free, and not †vsing your libertie for a cloake of maliciousnesse, but as the seruants of God.
17‖Honour all men. Loue the brotherhood. Feare God. Honour the King.
- Exodus 14:31Rank 5 from verse 21
- Matthew 22:21Rank 6 from verse 21
21They say unto him, Cæsar’s. Then saith he unto them, Render therefore unto Cæsar the things which are Cæsar’s; and unto God the things that are God’s.
21They say vnto him, Cesars. Then sayth he vnto them, *Render therefore vnto Cesar, the things which are Cesars: and vnto God, the things that are Gods.
- 1 Samuel 12:12–19Rank 7 from verse 21
12And when ye saw that Nahash the king of the children of Ammon came against you, ye said unto me, Nay; but a king shall reign over us: when the Lord your God was your king.
13Now therefore behold the king whom ye have chosen, and whom ye have desired! and, behold, the Lord hath set a king over you.
14If ye will fear the Lord, and serve him, and obey his voice, and not rebel against the commandment of the Lord, then shall both ye and also the king that reigneth over you continue following the Lord your God:
15But if ye will not obey the voice of the Lord, but rebel against the commandment of the Lord, then shall the hand of the Lord be against you, as it was against your fathers.
16¶ Now therefore stand and see this great thing, which the Lord will do before your eyes.
17Is it not wheat harvest to day? I will call unto the Lord, and he shall send thunder and rain; that ye may perceive and see that your wickedness is great, which ye have done in the sight of the Lord, in asking you a king.
18So Samuel called unto the Lord; and the Lord sent thunder and rain that day: and all the people greatly feared the Lord and Samuel.
19And all the people said unto Samuel, Pray for thy servants unto the Lord thy God, that we die not: for we have added unto all our sins this evil, to ask us a king.
12And when ye saw that Nahash the king of the children of Ammon came against you, ye said vnto me, Nay, but a King shall reigne ouer vs, when the LORD your God was your King.
13Now therefore, behold the King whom yee haue chosen, and whom yee haue desired: and behold, the LORD hath set a King ouer you.
14If ye will feare the LORD, and serue him, and obey his voice, and not rebell against the †Commandement of the LORD, then shall both ye and also the King that reigneth ouer you, †continue following the LORD your God.
15But if ye wil not obey the voice of the LORD, but rebel against the Commandement of the LORD, then shall the hand of the LORD be against you, as it was against your fathers.
16¶ Now therefore stand and see this great thing which the LORD will doe before your eyes.
17 Is it not wheat haruest to day? I will call vnto the LORD, and hee shall send thunder and raine, that ye may perceiue and see that your wickednesse is great, which ye haue done in the sight of the LORD, in asking you a King.
18So Samuel called vnto the LORD, and the LORD sent thunder and raine that day: and all the people greatly feared the LORD and Samuel.
19And all the people said vnto Samuel, Pray for thy seruants vnto the LORD thy God, that we die not: for we haue added vnto all our sinnes, this euil, to aske vs a King.
- Ecclesiastes 8:2–5Rank 8 from verse 21
2I counsel thee to keep the king’s commandment, and that in regard of the oath of God.
3Be not hasty to go out of his sight: stand not in an evil thing; for he doeth whatsoever pleaseth him.
4Where the word of a king is, there is power: and who may say unto him, What doest thou?
5Whoso keepeth the commandment shall feel no evil thing: and a wise man’s heart discerneth both time and judgment.
2I counsell thee, to keepe the kings commandement, and that in regard of the oath of God.
3Bee not hastie to goe out of his sight: stand not in an euill thing, for he doeth whatsoeuer pleaseth him.
4Where the word of a king is, there is power: and who may say vnto him, What doest thou?
5†Whoso keepeth the commandement, shall feele no euill thing: and a wise mans heart discerneth both time and iudgement.
- 1 Samuel 24:6Rank 9 from verse 21
6And he said unto his men, The Lord forbid that I should do this thing unto my master, the Lord’s anointed, to stretch forth mine hand against him, seeing he is the anointed of the Lord.
6And hee sayd vnto his men, The LORD forbid that I should doe this thing vnto my master the LORDs Anoynted, to stretch forth mine hand against him, seeing he is the Anoynted of the LORD.
- 1 Samuel 8:5–7Rank 10 from verse 21
5And said unto him, Behold, thou art old, and thy sons walk not in thy ways: now make us a king to judge us like all the nations.
6¶ But the thing displeased Samuel, when they said, Give us a king to judge us. And Samuel prayed unto the Lord.
7And the Lord said unto Samuel, Hearken unto the voice of the people in all that they say unto thee: for they have not rejected thee, but they have rejected me, that I should not reign over them.
5And said vnto him, Behold, thou art olde, and thy sonnes walke not in thy wayes: now *make vs a King to iudge vs, like all the nations.
6¶ But the thing †displeased Samuel, when they said, Giue vs a King to iudge vs: and Samuel prayed vnto the LORD.
7And the LORD said vnto Samuel, Hearken vnto the voyce of the people in all that they say vnto thee: for they haue not reiected thee, but they haue reiected mee, that I should not reigne ouer them.
- 2 Samuel 15:13–37Rank 11 from verse 21
13¶ And there came a messenger to David, saying, The hearts of the men of Israel are after Absalom.
14And David said unto all his servants that were with him at Jerusalem, Arise, and let us flee; for we shall not else escape from Absalom: make speed to depart, lest he overtake us suddenly, and bring evil upon us, and smite the city with the edge of the sword.
15And the king’s servants said unto the king, Behold, thy servants are ready to do whatsoever my lord the king shall appoint.
16And the king went forth, and all his household after him. And the king left ten women, which were concubines, to keep the house.
17And the king went forth, and all the people after him, and tarried in a place that was far off.
18And all his servants passed on beside him; and all the Cherethites, and all the Pelethites, and all the Gittites, six hundred men which came after him from Gath, passed on before the king.
19¶ Then said the king to Ittai the Gittite, Wherefore goest thou also with us? return to thy place, and abide with the king: for thou art a stranger, and also an exile.
20Whereas thou camest but yesterday, should I this day make thee go up and down with us? seeing I go whither I may, return thou, and take back thy brethren: mercy and truth be with thee.
21And Ittai answered the king, and said, As the Lord liveth, and as my lord the king liveth, surely in what place my lord the king shall be, whether in death or life, even there also will thy servant be.
22And David said to Ittai, Go and pass over. And Ittai the Gittite passed over, and all his men, and all the little ones that were with him.
23And all the country wept with a loud voice, and all the people passed over: the king also himself passed over the brook Kidron, and all the people passed over, toward the way of the wilderness.
24¶ And lo Zadok also, and all the Levites were with him, bearing the ark of the covenant of God: and they set down the ark of God; and Abiathar went up, until all the people had done passing out of the city.
25And the king said unto Zadok, Carry back the ark of God into the city: if I shall find favour in the eyes of the Lord, he will bring me again, and shew me both it, and his habitation:
26But if he thus say, I have no delight in thee; behold, here am I, let him do to me as seemeth good unto him.
27The king said also unto Zadok the priest, Art not thou a seer? return into the city in peace, and your two sons with you, Ahimaaz thy son, and Jonathan the son of Abiathar.
28See, I will tarry in the plain of the wilderness, until there come word from you to certify me.
29Zadok therefore and Abiathar carried the ark of God again to Jerusalem: and they tarried there.
30¶ And David went up by the ascent of mount Olivet, and wept as he went up, and had his head covered, and he went barefoot: and all the people that was with him covered every man his head, and they went up, weeping as they went up.
31¶ And one told David, saying, Ahithophel is among the conspirators with Absalom. And David said, O Lord, I pray thee, turn the counsel of Ahithophel into foolishness.
32¶ And it came to pass, that when David was come to the top of the mount, where he worshipped God, behold, Hushai the Archite came to meet him with his coat rent, and earth upon his head:
33Unto whom David said, If thou passest on with me, then thou shalt be a burden unto me:
34But if thou return to the city, and say unto Absalom, I will be thy servant, O king; as I have been thy father’s servant hitherto, so will I now also be thy servant: then mayest thou for me defeat the counsel of Ahithophel.
35And hast thou not there with thee Zadok and Abiathar the priests? therefore it shall be, that what thing soever thou shalt hear out of the king’s house, thou shalt tell it to Zadok and Abiathar the priests.
36Behold, they have there with them their two sons, Ahimaaz Zadok’s son, and Jonathan Abiathar’s son; and by them ye shall send unto me every thing that ye can hear.
37So Hushai David’s friend came into the city, and Absalom came into Jerusalem.
13¶ And there came a messenger to Dauid, saying, The hearts of the men of Israel are after Absalom.
14And Dauid said vnto all his seruants that were with him at Ierusalem, Arise, and let vs flee; for wee shall not else escape from Absalom: make speede to depart, lest hee ouertake vs suddenly, and †bring euill vpon vs, and smite the city with the edge of the sword.
15And the kings seruants said vnto the king, Behold, thy seruants are readie to doe whatsoeuer my lord the king shall †appoint.
16And the king went foorth, and all his houshold †after him: and the King left tenne women, which were concubines, to keepe the house.
17And the king went forth, and all the people after him, and taried in a place that was farre off.
18And all his seruants passed on beside him: and all the Cherethites, and all the Pelethites, and all the Gittites, sixe hundred men, which came after him from Gath, passed on before the king.
19¶ Then said the king to Ittai the Gittite, Wherefore goest thou also with vs? Returne to thy place, and abide with the King: for thou art a stranger, and also an exile.
20Whereas thou camest but yesterday, should I this day †make thee goe vp and downe with vs? Seeing I goe whither I may, returne thou, and take backe thy brethren: mercie and trueth be with thee.
21And Ittai answered the King, and said, As the LORD liueth, and as my lord the king liueth, surely in what place my lord the king shall be, whether in death or life, euen there also will thy seruant be.
22And Dauid said to Ittai, Goe, and passe ouer. And Ittai the Gittite passed ouer, and all his men, and all the little ones that were with him.
23And all the countrey wept with a loude voice, and all the people passed ouer: the King also himselfe passed ouer the brooke †Kidron, and all the people passed ouer, toward the way of the wildernesse.
24¶ And loe, Zadok also, and all the Leuites were with him, bearing the Arke of the Couenant of God, and they set downe the Arke of God; and Abiathar went vp, vntill all the people had done passing out of the citie.
25And the King said vnto Zadok, Cary backe the Arke of God into the citie: if I shall finde fauour in the eyes of the LORD, he wil bring me againe, and shew me both it, and his habitation.
26But if he thus say, I haue no delight in thee: beholde, here am I, let him doe to me, as seemeth good vnto him.
27The king said also vnto Zadok the Priest, * Art not thou a Seer? Returne into the citie in peace, and your two sonnes with you, Ahimaaz thy sonne, and Ionathan the sonne of Abiathar.
28See, I will tarie in the plaine of the wildernesse, vntill there come word from you to certifie me.
29Zadok therefore and Abiathar caried the Arke of God againe to Ierusalem; and they taried there.
30¶ And Dauid went vp by the ascent of mount Oliuet, †and wept as he went vp, and had his head couered, and he went barefoote, and all the people that was with him, couered euery man his head, and they went vp, weeping as they went vp.
31¶ And one tolde Dauid, saying, Ahithophel is among the conspirators with Absalom. And Dauid sayde, O LORD, I pray thee turne the counsell of Ahithophel into foolishnesse.
32¶ And it came to passe, that when Dauid was come to the top of the mount, where he worshipped God, behold, Hushai the Archite came to meet him, with his coat rent, and earth vpon his head:
33Unto whom Dauid said, If thou passest on with me, then thou shalt be a burden vnto me.
34But if thou returne to the citie, and say vnto Absalom, I wil be thy seruant, O king: as I haue bene thy fathers seruant hitherto, so will I now also be thy seruant: then mayest thou for mee defeat the counsell of Ahithophel.
35And hast thou not there with thee Zadok, and Abiathar the Priests? therefore it shall be, that what thing soeuer thou shalt heare out of the kings house, thou shalt tell it to Zadok and Abiathar the Priests.
36Behold, they haue there with them their two sonnes, Ahimaaz Zadoks sonne, and Ionathan Abiathars sonne: and by them ye shall send vnto me euery thing that ye can heare.
37So Hushai Dauids friend came into the citie, and Absalom came into Ierusalem.
- Numbers 16:1–3Rank 12 from verse 21
1NOW Korah, the son of Izhar, the son of Kohath, the son of Levi, and Dathan and Abiram, the sons of Eliab, and On, the son of Peleth, sons of Reuben, took men:
2And they rose up before Moses, with certain of the children of Israel, two hundred and fifty princes of the assembly, famous in the congregation, men of renown:
3And they gathered themselves together against Moses and against Aaron, and said unto them, Ye take too much upon you, seeing all the congregation are holy, every one of them, and the Lord is among them: wherefore then lift ye up yourselves above the congregation of the Lord?
1¶ Now *Korah the sonne of Izhar, the sonne of Kohath, the sonne of Leui, and Dathan, and Abiram the sonnes of Eliab, and On the sonne of Peleth, sonnes of Reuben, tooke men.
2And they rose vp before Moses, with certaine of the children of Israel, two hundred and fiftie Princes of the assembly, *famous in the Congregation, men of renowne.
3And they gathered themselues together against Moses, and against Aaron, and said vnto them, † Ye take too much vpon you, seeing all the Congregation are holy euery one of them, and the LORD is among them: wherfore then lift you vp your selues aboue the Congregation of the LORD?
WORDS IN THIS PASSAGE
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DEFINED WORDS
Proverbs 24:21
1. A male child or descendant. 2. One belonging to, related to, or characterized by the person, people, place, condition, or quality named.
Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references
1. Alarm, dread, terror, or apprehension. 2. Reverence, awe, or respectful regard. 3. A person, thing, or event feared or revered. 4. To fear, dread, or reverence.
Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references
The singular second-person subject pronoun, meaning you when directly addressing one person, being, or individually treated addressee.
Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Webster 1828
The divine name of the living God, also named JEHOVAH.
Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references
A sovereign ruler; one exercising royal authority over a kingdom.
Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references
Bestowed, granted, delivered, or appointed.
Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references
Sense 1: To make or become different; to alter, exchange, replace, or pass from one state to another. Sense 2: An alteration, exchange, replacement, or transition from one state to another.
Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references
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20For there shall be no reward to the evil man; the candle of the wicked shall be put out.
20*‖For there shall be no reward to the euill man: the candle of the wicked shall be put out.
21My son, fear thou the Lord and the king: and meddle not with them that are given to change:
21†My sonne, feare thou the LORD, and the king: and medle not with them that are giuen to change.
Selected passage22For their calamity shall rise suddenly; and who knoweth the ruin of them both?
22For their calamity shall rise suddenly, and who knoweth the ruine of them both?