Adam Clarke on Proverbs 8:15

By me kings reign - Every wise and prudent king is such through the influence of Divine wisdom. And just laws and their righteous administration come from this source. In this and the following verse five degrees of civil power and authority are mentioned.

1. מלכים melachim, Kings.

2. רזנים rozenim, Consuls.

3. שרים sarim, Princes, Chiefs of the people.

4. נדיבים nedibim, Nobles. And

5. שפטים shophetim, Judges or Civil Magistrates\\

All orders of government are from God. Instead of שפטי ארץ shophetey arets,"judges of the earth," שפטי צרק shophetey tsedek, "righteous judges," or "judges of righteousness," is the reading of one hundred and sixty-two of Kennicott's and De Rossi's MSS., both in the text and in the margin, and of several ancient editions. And this is the reading of the Vulgate, the Chaldee, and the Syriac, and should undoubtedly supersede the other.