Proverbs 29:26

Many seek the ruler's favour; but every man's judgment cometh from the LORD.

EXPOSITORY (ENGLISH BIBLE)

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(26) Many seek the ruler’s favour.—And to be advanced by him; but his approval is of little value, for “every man’s judgment cometh from the Lord;” it is He who really decides each man’s worth. (Comp. 1Samuel 16:7; 1Corinthians 4:5.)

Benson Commentary

Proverbs 29:26. Many seek the ruler’s favour — Men study to please their rulers, and to ensure their favour, by their obliging behaviour, humble petitions, and various other means, supposing that to be the only way to procure either right or preferment; but every man’s judgment cometh from the Lord — The decision of his cause, and the success of all his endeavours, depend wholly upon God, who rules and inclines the minds and hearts of princes and governors, as well as of other men, as it pleaseth him.

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

29:26. The wisest course is, to look to God, and seek the favour of the Ruler of rulers; for every creature is that to us which God makes it to be. 27. The just man abhors the sins of the wicked, and shuns their company. Christ exposed the wickedness of men, yet prayed for the wicked when they were crucifying him. Hatred to sin in ourselves and others, is a needful branch of the Christian temper. But all that are unholy, have rooted hatred to godliness.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

To trust in the favor of princes is to build upon the sands. The judgment which will set right all wrong will come from the Lord. It is better to wait for that than to run here and there, canvassing, bribing, flattering.

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

26. (Compare Margin; Ps 27:8). God alone will and can do exact justice.

Matthew Poole's Commentary

Seek the ruler’s favour: men study to please and engage their rulers by their obliging carriage, and humble petitions, and all other means, supposing that to be the only way to procure either right or favour from them, as they need or desire it.

Every man’s judgment, the decision of his cause, and the success of all his endeavours,

cometh from the Lord; dependeth wholly upon God, who ruleth and inclineth their minds and hearts as it pleaseth him, Proverbs 21:1.

Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

Many seek the ruler's favour,.... Or "face" (e); are very desirous of being admitted into his presence, and of having his company and conversation; of having an opportunity to ask a favour of him, and of receiving honour from him, and of gaining him on their side, to take their part in a cause depending; see Proverbs 19:6;

but every man's judgment cometh from the Lord; who has the hearts of kings and rulers in his hand, and directs them in bestowing their favours, and in determining causes; so that all things are ultimately from the Lord; and therefore it is best to seek unto him, and trust in him: or the state and condition and circumstances of men, as to riches and honour, and the like, are all from the Lord, according as he sees fit; who sets up one and pulls down another, according to his pleasure.

(e) "faciem", V. L. Pagninus, Vatablus, Tigurine version, Junius & Tremellius, so Michaelis, Schultens.

Geneva Study Bible

Many seek the ruler's favour; but every man's {g} judgment cometh from the LORD.

(g) He does not need to flatter the ruler, for what God has appointed will come to him.

EXEGETICAL (ORIGINAL LANGUAGES)

Pulpit Commentary

Verse 26. - Many seek the ruler's favour; literally, the countenance of the ruler. A variation of Proverbs 19:6. There are numbers who are always trying, by means fair or surreptitious, to curry favour with a great man who has anything to bestow (comp. 1 Kings 10:24; Psalm 45:12). But every man's judgment cometh from the Lord. The real and only reliable judgment comes, not from an earthly prince (who may be prejudiced and is certainly fallible), but from the Lord, whose approval or disapproval is final and indisputable. Therefore one should seek to please him rather than any man, however great and powerful (comp. 1 Samuel 16:7; Isaiah 49:4; 1 Corinthians 4:5). Proverbs 29:26

Keil and Delitzsch Biblical Commentary on the Old Testament

A similar gen. connection to that between חרדת אדם exists between משׁפט־אישׁ:

Many seek the countenance of the ruler;

Yet from Jahve cometh the judgment of men.

Line first is a variation of Proverbs 19:6, cf. 1 Kings 10:24. It lies near to interpret אישׁ as gen. obj.: the judgment regarding any one, i.e., the estimating of the man, the decision regarding him; and it is also possible, for משׁפּטי, Psalm 17:2, may be understood of the judgment which I have, as well as of the judgment pronounced regarding me (cf. Lamentations 3:59). But the usage appears to think of the genit. after משׁפט always as subjective, e.g., Proverbs 16:33, of the decision which the lot brings, Job 36:6, the right to which the poor have a claim; so that thus in the passage before us משׁפט־אשׁ means the right of a man, as that which is proper or fitting to him, the judgment of a man, as that to which as appropriate he has a claim (lxx τὸ δίκαιον ἀνδρί). Whether the genit. be rendered in the one way or the other, the meaning remains the same: it is not the ruler who finally decides the fate and determines the worth of a man, as they appear to think who with eye-service court his favour and fawn upon him.