1A wise magistrate gives stability to his people, and government by the intelligent is well ordered.
2As the people’s judge, so the officials; as the head of a city, so the inhabitants.
3A reckless king destroys his people, but a city grows through the intelligence of its princes.
4Sovereignty over the earth is in the hand of God, who appoints the right person for the right time.
5Sovereignty over everyone is in the hand of God, who imparts his majesty to the ruler.
6The Sin of Pride - No matter what the wrong, never harm your neighbor or go the way of arrogance.
7Odious to the Lord and to mortals is pride, and for both oppression is a crime.
8Sovereignty is transferred from one people to another because of the lawlessness of the proud.
9Why are dust and ashes proud? Even during life the body decays.
10A slight illness—the doctor jests; a king today—tomorrow he is dead.
11When a people die, they inherit corruption and worms, gnats and maggots.
12The beginning of pride is stubbornness in withdrawing the heart from one’s Maker.
13For sin is a reservoir of insolence, a source which runs over with vice; Because of it God sends unheard-of afflictions and strikes people with utter ruin.
14God overturns the thrones of the proud and enthrones the lowly in their place.
15God plucks up the roots of the proud, and plants the lowly in their place.
16The Lord lays waste the lands of the nations, and destroys them to the very foundations of the earth.
17He removes them from the earth, destroying them, erasing their memory from the world.
18Insolence does not befit mortals, nor impudent anger those born of women.
19True Glory - Whose offspring can be honorable? Human offspring. Those who fear the LORD are honorable offspring. Whose offspring can be disgraceful? Human offspring. Those who transgress the commandment are disgraceful offspring.
20Among relatives their leader is honored; but whoever fears God is honored among God’s people.