¹¹ He who loves purity of heart
    and hasgracious speech,^[a] his friend is the king.

²¹ Fear Yahweh, my son, and the king;
    with those who change, do not associate.
²² For suddenly their disaster will come,
    and the ruin of both of them,^[a] who knows?

² The glory of God^[a] conceals things,
    but the glory of kings searches out things.
³ As heaven is to height and the earth is to depth,
    so is the heart^[b] of kings—there is no searching.
⁴ Remove the dross from silver,
    and it will become a vessel for the smith.
⁵ Remove the wicked before a king,
    and his throne will be established in righteousness.^[c]
6 Do not promote yourself before the king,
    and in the place of the great ones do not stand.
⁷ For it is better that he say to you, “Ascend here,”
    than he humble you before a noble.
What your eyes have seen,

¹⁵ With patience^[a] a ruler may be persuaded,
    and a soft tongue will break a bone.^[b]

² By the rebellion of a land, her rulers increase,
    but by a person of intelligence who knows justice, it will last.
³ A man who is poor and oppresses the impoverished
    is a beating rain that leaves^[a] no food.

¹⁵ Like a roaring lion and a charging bear
    is a wicked ruler over a poor people.
¹⁶ A ruler who lacks understanding is^[a] a cruel oppressor,
    but those who hate unjust gain will have long^[b] days.

⁴ By justice a king gives stability to a land,
    but a man of bribes will ruin it.

¹² A ruler listening to a word of falsehood,
    all his officials are wicked.