¹¹ Whoever loves purity^[a] and gracious speech
    will gain the king as his friend.

²¹ My son, fear both the Lord and the king,
    and don’t keep company with rebels.
²² They will be destroyed suddenly,
    and who knows what kind of punishment will come from these two?

² It is the glory of God to conceal a matter,
    and the glory of kings to investigate a matter.
³ Just as the heavens are high
    and earth is deep,
        so the heart of a king is unfathomable.

⁴ Purge the dross from the silver,
    and material for^[a] a vessel comes forth for the silversmith.
⁵ Purge the wicked from the king’s presence,
    and his throne will be established in righteousness.

⁶ Don’t magnify yourself in the presence of a king,
    and don’t pretend to be in the company of famous men,
⁷ for it is better that it be told you, “Come up here,”
    than for you to be placed lower
        in the presence of an official.

What you’ve seen with your own eyes,

¹⁵ Through patience a ruler may be persuaded;
    a gentle word^[a] can break a bone.

² When a land transgresses,
    it gains a succession of leaders,
but with an understanding and knowledgeable man,
    its stability endures.

³ A poor man who oppresses the weak
    is like a rainstorm that destroys all^[a] the crops.

¹⁵ A roaring lion and a charging bear—
    that’s what a wicked tyrant is over poor people.
¹⁶ A Commander-in-Chief^[a] who is a cruel oppressor lacks understanding,
    but whoever hates unjust gain will live longer.^[b]

⁴ A king brings stability to a land through justice,
    but a man who takes bribes brings it to ruin.

¹² When a ruler is listening to lies,
    all of his officials tend to become wicked.