Proverbs 16:15
If a king has a smile [MTY] on his face, he will enable people to have a long life (OR, he will not order people to be executed); his being pleased with people is as delightful as rain in the springtime when seeds are planted.
Translation for Translators
In The King James Version
In the light of the king’s countenance is life; and his favour is as a cloud of the latter rain.
In Context
Cross References
Job 29:23They waited for me to speak like they wait for rain; they appreciated what I said like [MET] farmers appreciate the final rain in the spring before the dry season.
Psalms 21:6You will bless me/him forever, and you have caused me/him to be joyful in your presence.
Psalms 72:6I desire that my rule will be enjoyed by the people [SIM] like they enjoy rain on growing crops, like they enjoy showers that fall on the land.
Proverbs 29:26Many people request rulers to do things to help them, but Yahweh is the only one who surely does for people what is fair/just.
Zechariah 10:1Ask Yahweh to cause rain to fall ◄in the springtime/before the hot season starts►, because he is the one who makes the clouds from which the rain falls. He causes showers to fall on us, and he causes crops to grow well in the fields.
Matthew Henry on Proverbs 16:15-16
14 The wrath of a king is as messengers of death: but a wise man will pacify it. 15 In the light of the king's countenance is life; and his favour is as a cloud of the latter rain. These two verses show the power of kings, which is every where great, but was especially so in those eastern countries, where they were absolute and arbitrary. Whom they would they slew and whom they would they kept alive. Their will was a law. We have reason to bless God for the happy constitution of the government we live under, which… Read the whole commentary →