“By me kings reign”: “By me” means “by means of me,” “through me,” “through my power,” or “I allow.” Bible en français courant says “Thanks to my help. . ..” :We may also say, for example, “I enable kings to rule” or “I make it possible for chiefs to rule their people.”

“And rulers decree what is just”: “Rulers” renders a word that refers to leaders generally. “Decree” is to set forth or impose an official decision or rule that people are forced to obey. “What is just” means laws or rules that are fair, or, as Good News Translation says, “good laws.”

Quoted with permission from Reyburn, William D. and Fry, Euan McG. A Handbook on Proverbs. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2000. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .