Proverbs 20:28

Loyal love and truth ¹  preserve a king, and his throne is upheld by loyal love. ² 

Love and faithfulness keep a king safe; through love his throne is made secure.

Loyalty and truth preserve the king, And he upholds his throne by righteousness.

Unfailing love and faithfulness protect the king; his throne is made secure through love.

Love and truth form a good leader; sound leadership is founded on loving integrity.

Mercy and good faith keep the king safe, and the seat of his power is based on upright acts.

Loyalty and faithfulness preserve the king, and his throne is upheld by righteousness.

Mercy and truth preserve the king, And by lovingkindness he upholds his throne.

Loyal love and truth ¹  preserve a king, and his throne is upheld by loyal love. ² 

¹ tn The first line uses two Hebrew words, חֶסֶד וֶאֱמֶת (khesed ve’emet, “loyal love and truth”), to tell where security lies. The first word is the covenant term for “loyal love; loving-kindness; mercy”; and the second is “truth” in the sense of what is reliable and dependable. The two words often are joined together to form a hendiadys: “faithful love.” That a hendiadys is intended here is confirmed by the fact that the second line uses only the critical word חֶסֶד.

² sn The emphasis is on the Davidic covenant (2 Sam 7:11-16; Ps 89:19-37). It is the Lord and his faithful love for his covenant that ultimately makes the empire secure. But the enjoyment of divine protection requires the king to show loyal love as well.