14:28

Notice the parallel parts that contrast in meaning:

28a
A large population is a king’s splendor,

28b but a lack of subjects is a prince’s ruin.

14:28a–b

a king…a prince: Both of these parallel terms refer here to the ruler of a country. No contrast is intended between them. The Berean Standard Bible translates the same word that it translates as prince here as “rulers” in 8:15b (see the note there). For other ways to translate the word king, see the note on 1:1.

14:28a

A large population is a king’s splendor: This line states a general principle. It indicates that a king’s power, honor, or reputation is based on the number of people who are his subjects. Another way to translate this line is:

A king is honored when he has many people to rule (New Century Version)

14:28b

but a lack of subjects is a prince’s ruin: For the word translated here as ruin, see the note in 13:3b. If a king/ruler ends up with no one under his authority, his power and reputation will be destroyed. He will no longer have any influence. Another way to translate this line is:

lack of them makes a prince of no account (Revised English Bible)

This line is an example of hyperbole (deliberate exaggeration for the sake of emphasis). Some versions make the contrast less extreme. For example:

dwindling population, ruler’s ruin (New Jerusalem Bible)
-or-
if his people are few, it is the prince’s ruin (New American Bible)

You will need to decide if this kind of adjustment is necessary to avoid wrong meaning. Remember that the extreme situation described in this line (a king with no subjects whatsoever) creates a vivid picture in the reader’s mind.

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