The king's wrath is as the roaring of a lion; but his favour is as dew upon the grass.

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

12. (Compare Pr 16:14, 15; 20:2). A motive to submission to lawful authority.

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

19:11. He attains the most true glory who endeavours most steadily to overcome evil with good. 12. Christ is a King, whose wrath against his enemies will be as the roaring of a lion, and his favour to his people as the refreshing dew. 13. It shows the vanity of the world, that we are liable to the greatest griefs where we promise ourselves the greatest comfort.

Matthew Henry's Whole Bible Commentary

Verse 12

This is to the same purport with what we had ch. 16:14, 15, and the design of it is, 1. To make kings wise and considerate in dispensing their frowns and smiles. They are not like those of common persons; their frowns are very terrible and their smiles very comfortable, and therefore it concerns them to be very careful that they never frighten a good man from doing well with their frowns, nor ever give countenance to a wicked man in doing ill with their smiles, for then they abuse their influence, Rom. 13:3. 2. To make subjects faithful and dutiful to their princes. Let them be restrained from all disloyalty by the consideration of the dreadful consequence of having the government against them; and let them be encouraged in all good services to the public by the hopes of the favour of their prince. Christ is a King whose wrath against his enemies will be as the roaring of a lion (Rev. 10:3) and his favour to his own people as the refreshing dew, Ps. 72:6.