When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice: but when the wicked beareth rule, the people mourn.

When the righteous are increased, the people rejoice; But when a wicked man beareth rule, the people sigh.

When just men increase, the people shall rejoice: when the wicked shall bear rule, the people shall mourn.

In the multiplying of the righteous the people rejoice, And in the ruling of the wicked the people sigh.

When the upright have power, the people are glad; when an evil man is ruler, grief comes on the people.

When just men are multiplied, the common people shall rejoice. When the impious take up the leadership, the people shall mourn.

When the righteous are in authority,.... Or "are increased" (g); either in number or in riches, or in power and dominion; are set in high places, and have the exercise of civil government and the execution of the laws in their hands; for the protection of good men in their civil and religious privileges, and for the punishment of evil men; for the encouraging of all that is good, and for the discouraging of everything that is bad;
the people rejoice; the whole body of the people, because of the public good; a state is happy under such an administration; everyone feels and enjoys the advantage of it; see 1-Kings 4:20;
but when the wicked beareth rule, the people mourn; or "groan" (h), or "will groan", under their tyranny and oppression, and because of the sad state of things; the number of good men is lessened, being cut off, or obliged to flee; wicked men and wickedness are encouraged and promoted; heavy taxes are laid upon them, and exorbitant demands made and cruelty, injustice, and arbitrary power exercised; and no man's person and property safe; see Proverbs 10:11.
(g) "cum augentur", Junius & Tremellius; "cum multiplicati fuerit, vel multiplicantur", Vatablus, Baynus, Cocceius, Michaelis; "in multiplicari justos", Montanus. (h) "gemet", Pagninus, Montanus, V. L. "gemit", Michaelis; "ingemiscit", Schultens; so the Tugurine version, Mercerus; "suspirat", Junius & Tremellius, Piscator, Cocceius.

The people have cause to rejoice or mourn, as their rulers are righteous or wicked.

(Compare Proverbs 11:10; Proverbs 28:28).
in authority--(Compare Margin), increased in power.

The general ethical proverb is here followed by one that is political:
2 When the righteous increase, the people rejoice;
And when a godless man ruleth, the people mourn.
Regarding 'בּרבות צדּ (Aquila rightly, ἐν τῷ πληθῦναι δικαίους), vid., at Proverbs 28:28. If the righteous form the majority, or are in such numbers that they are the party that give the tone, that form the predominant power among the people (Fleischer, cum incrementa capiunt justi), then the condition of the people is a happy one, and their voice joyful (Proverbs 11:10); if, on the contrary, a godless man or (after Proverbs 28:1) godless men rule, the people are made to sigh (יאנח עם, with the Gaja, according to rule). "There is reason," as Hitzig remarks, "why עם should be placed first with, and then without, the article." In the first case it denotes the people as those among whom there is such an increase of the righteous; in the second case, the article is wanting, because it is not generally used in poetry; and, besides, its absence makes the second line consist of nine syllables, like the first.