Charles Ellicott Commentary Proverbs 29:12

"If a ruler hearkeneth to falsehood, All his servants are wicked." — Proverbs 29:12 (ASV)

If a ruler hearken to lies, all his servants are wicked.— If a ruler shows that he likes adulation and falsehood rather than unpleasant truths, his attendants will provide him with what he wishes. (Compare to Sirach 10:2.) So Jeremiah complains (Jeremiah 5:31) that prophets, priests, and people were all wilfully deceiving each other.