Proverbs 14:35

The king shows favor ¹  to a wise ²  servant, but his wrath falls ³  on one who acts shamefully.

A king delights in a wise servant, but a shameful servant incurs his wrath.

The king’s favor is toward a servant who acts wisely, But his anger is toward him who acts shamefully.

A king rejoices in servants who know what they are doing; he is angry with those who cause trouble.

Diligent work gets a warm commendation; shiftless work earns an angry rebuke.

The king has pleasure in a servant who does wisely, but his wrath is against him who is a cause of shame.

A servant who deals wisely has the king’s favor, but his wrath falls on one who acts shamefully.

The king’s favor is toward a wise servant, But his wrath is against him who causes shame.

The king shows favor ¹  to a wise ²  servant, but his wrath falls ³  on one who acts shamefully.

¹ tn Heb “the favor of a king.” The noun “king” functions as a subjective genitive: “the king shows favor….”

² sn The wise servant is shown favor, while the shameful servant is shown anger. Two Hiphil participles make the contrast: מַשְׂכִּיל (maskil, “wise”) and מֵבִישׁ (mevish, “one who acts shamefully”). The wise servant is a delight and enjoys the favor of the king because he is skillful and clever. The shameful one botches his duties; his indiscretions and incapacity expose the master to criticism (W. McKane, Proverbs [OTL], 470).

³ tn Heb “is” (so KJV, ASV).