Proverbs 29:4 (BSB)

By justice a king brings stability to the land, but a man who exacts tribute demolishes it.

From Proverbs 29. Also in the ESV.

Commentary on Proverbs 29:4

• Matthew Henry (Presbyterian), Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary on Proverbs 29:4: Here is, 1. The happiness of a people under a good government. The care and business of a prince should be to establish the land, to maintain its fundamental laws, to settle the minds of his subjects and make them easy, to secure their liberties and properties from hostilities and for posterity, and to set in order the things that are wanting; this he must...
• John Gill (Reformed Baptist), Exposition of the Old and New Testaments on Proverbs 29:4: The king by judgment establisheth the land,.... By executing, judgment and justice among his subjects, he establishes the laws of the land, and the government of it; he secures its peace and prosperity, and preserves his people in the possession at their properties and privileges; and makes them rich and powerful, and the state stable and flourishing, so that it continues firm to posterity; such...
• Jamieson-Fausset-Brown (Reformed), Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible on Proverbs 29:4: by judgment--that is, righteous decisions, opposed to those procured by gifts (compare Pro 28:21), by which good government is perverted. land--for nation.
• Keil & Delitzsch (Lutheran), Biblical Commentary on the Old Testament on Proverbs 29:4: Pro 29:4 A series of six proverb follows, beginning with a proverb of the king: 4 A king by righteousness bringeth the land to a good condition; But a man of taxes bringeth it down. The Hiph. חעמיד signifies to make it so that a person or matter comes to stand erect and stand fast (e.g., 1Ki 15:4); הרס, to tear down, is the contrary...