Proverbs 16:12 (YLT)

Passage

An abomination to kings <FI>is<Fi> doing wickedness, For by righteousness is a throne established.

Nearby Context

Proverbs 16:10 An oath <FI>is<Fi> on the lips of a king, In judgment his mouth trespasseth not.

Proverbs 16:11 A just beam and balances <FI>are<Fi> Jehovah's, His work <FI>are<Fi> all the stones of the bag.

Proverbs 16:12 An abomination to kings <FI>is<Fi> doing wickedness, For by righteousness is a throne established.

Proverbs 16:13 The delight of kings <FI>are<Fi> righteous lips, And whoso is speaking uprightly he loveth,

Proverbs 16:14 The fury of a king <FI>is<Fi> messengers of death, And a wise man pacifieth it.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "abomination", "kings", "doing", "wickedness", "righteousness", "throne", and "established". 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 beam and balances FI are..." into verse 13's "The delight of kings FI are Fi...", 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.