King James Bible
"The wrath of a king is as messengers of death: but a wise man will pacify it."
Royal anger is compared to death's heralds—swift, terrifying, and potentially fatal. In ancient Near Eastern monarchies, kings wielded absolute power over life and death, making their displeasure a genuine mortal threat that could result in immediate execution or ruin. Wisdom provides the antidote to royal fury through skillful diplomacy, timing, and understanding of human nature. The contrast emphasizes that intelligence and discretion can defuse even the most dangerous situations, transforming certain doom into restored favor.