Proverbs 16:15 (KJV)

Passage

In the light of the king’s countenance is life; and his favour is as a cloud of the latter rain.

Nearby Context

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.

Proverbs 16:15 In the light of the king’s countenance is life; and his favour is as a cloud of the latter rain.

Proverbs 16:16 How much better is it to get wisdom than gold! and to get understanding rather to be chosen than silver!

Proverbs 16:17 The highway of the upright is to depart from evil: he that keepeth his way preserveth his soul.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "light", "king", "countenance", "life", "favour", "cloud", "latter", and "rain". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "light" and "king", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 14's "The wrath of a king is as..." into verse 16's "How much better is it to get...", so "light" and "king" 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 "light" and "king" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.