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Proverbs 14 · a question people ask

"Righteousness exalts a nation" (14:34). Which nation is this about?

In the text

The verse names none: "Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a disgrace to any people" (14:34). The chapter speaks of a king and his people too: "In the multitude of people is the king’s glory" (14:28), and "The king’s favor is toward a servant who deals wisely" (14:35). In Hebrew disgrace in 14:34 is spelled like chesed, the love of 14:22, but Brown-Driver-Briggs lists it as a word of its own, "shame, reproach" (tap love). The saying speaks of righteousness and sin in a nation and in any people; these notes don't apply it to any nation, government or public debate today.

The verses

“Don’t they go astray who plot evil? But love and faithfulness belong to those who plan good.”
Proverbs 14:22 · World English Bible
“In the multitude of people is the king’s glory, but in the lack of people is the destruction of the prince.”
Proverbs 14:28 · World English Bible
“Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a disgrace to any people. The king’s favor is toward a servant who deals wisely, but his wrath is toward one who causes shame.”
Proverbs 14:34-35 · World English Bible

From Favor's study of Proverbs 14

Proverbs 14: A way which seems right

"There is a way which seems right to a man" (14:12): its right is the Hebrew word of "the upright" one verse before (14:11), and the saying comes again word for word (16:25). And the WEB's the foolish one who tears down her house (14:1) is folly, a word this chapter has seven times, more than any other chapter of the Hebrew Bible.

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Scripture quotations are from the World English Bible, which is in the public domain. Every answer cites the verses it rests on. What we believe · All Bible questions