Proverbs 16:12 (KJV)

Passage

It is an abomination to kings to commit wickedness: for the throne is established by righteousness.

Nearby Context

Proverbs 16:10 A divine sentence is in the lips of the king: his mouth transgresseth not in judgment.

Proverbs 16:11 A just weight and balance are the LORD’s: all the weights of the bag are his work.

Proverbs 16:12 It is an abomination to kings to commit wickedness: for the throne is established by righteousness.

Proverbs 16:13 Righteous lips are the delight of kings; and they love him that speaketh right.

Proverbs 16:14 The wrath of a king is as messengers of death: but a wise man will pacify it.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "abomination", "kings", "commit", "wickedness", "throne", "established", and "righteousness". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "abomination" and "kings", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 11's "A just weight and balance are the..." into verse 13's "Righteous lips are the delight of kings...", so "abomination" and "kings" belong inside that flow. In Proverbs context, the local focus is covenant, worship, and faithfulness.

A plain takeaway is to answer the verse's own emphasis on "abomination" and "kings" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.