Bible Strands
Proverbs 14:34
Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a disgrace to any people.
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — The wisdom writer addresses the community of Israel regarding national conduct. The verse functions as a concluding principle within a section contrasting discernment with folly.
The words — צְדָקָה (tze.da.Kah) denotes righteous conduct, while חֶסֶד (chesed) here carries the literal sense of shame or disgrace. The verb תְרוֹמֵם (te.ro.mem) literally means to lift up or raise high.
The thread — The text links national prosperity to obedience and disgrace to wickedness. This pattern appears in Deuteronomy 28:1 and Deuteronomy 29:18 regarding covenant blessings and curses, and in Psalms 107:34 where land is ruined by the wickedness of its inhabitants.
Why it lands — The text states that collective righteousness elevates a community while sin brings public shame. It requires the reader to recognize that national standing depends on corporate moral alignment rather than political strength alone.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people.
Cross-references
- Psalms 107:34 and fruitful land into fields of salt, because of the wickedness of its dwellers.
- Deuteronomy 28:1 “Now if you faithfully obey the voice of the LORD your God and are careful to follow all His commandments I am giving you today, the LORD your God will set you high above all the nations of the earth.
- Deuteronomy 29:18 Make sure there is no man or woman, clan or tribe among you today whose heart turns away from the LORD our God to go and worship the gods of those nations. Make sure there is no root among you that bears such poisonous and bitter fruit,
- Deuteronomy 4:6 Observe them carefully, for this will show your wisdom and understanding in the sight of the peoples, who will hear of all these statutes and say, “Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people.”
- Judges 2:6 After Joshua had dismissed the people, the Israelites went out to take possession of the land, each to his own inheritance.
- Ezekiel 16:1 Again the word of the LORD came to me, saying,
- Hosea 13:1 When Ephraim spoke, there was trembling; he was exalted in Israel. But he incurred guilt through Baal, and he died.
- Jeremiah 2:2 “Go and proclaim in the hearing of Jerusalem that this is what the LORD says: ‘I remember the devotion of your youth, your love as a bride, how you followed Me in the wilderness, in a land not sown.
- Ezekiel 22:1 Then the word of the LORD came to me, saying,