8:16

Notice the parallel parts that are similar in meaning.

16a By me princes rule,

16b and all nobles who govern justly.

There is an ellipsis in 8:16b. In some languages, it may be necessary to supply the missing words. For example:

16b and ⌊by me⌋ all nobles who govern justly ⌊rule⌋ .

8:16a

By me princes rule: The word princes refers to anyone who belongs to the ruling class. It does not refer specifically to the sons of kings. For example:

Rulers lead with my help (New Living Translation (2004))

8:16b

and all nobles who govern justly: There is a textual issue here:

(1) Some Hebrew manuscripts have: “nobles, all judges of righteousness.” For example:

and nobles, all who govern rightly (New Revised Standard Version)

(2) Other Hebrew manuscripts and the LXX have: “nobles, all judges of the earth.” For example:

and nobles govern the earth (Revised Standard Version)

It is recommended that you follow option (1), because it is more likely to have been the original text. Also it better fits the parallel idea of 8:15b. As a practical translation issue, the content of text (2) would also be implied in text (1), since the “judges of righteousness” are on the earth.

nobles: The word nobles refers to a man who belongs to the ruling class.

who govern justly: In Hebrew, this phrase is literally “all judges of righteousness.” It refers here to any government leader who governs or rules in a just or fair manner. It does not refer specifically to someone who presides over a law court. Another way to translate this phrase is:

so do all important people who judge fairly (New Century Version)

General Comment on 8:15–16

The four lines of these two verses are all parallel. In some languages, there may not be four different words for different kinds of rulers, so it may be more natural to combine these verses. For example:

15-16 It is by means of me that kings and other leaders rule their countries and make good/just laws.
-or-
15-16 I am the one that helps kings and all other leaders in the government to rule ⌊their countries/people well⌋ and to make laws that are good/just.

The parallel parts of each verse may also be combined and/or reordered. See the Display for 8:15a–b (combined/reordered) and 8:16a–b (combined/reordered).

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