¹¹ One who loves a pure heart and who speaks with grace
    will have the king for a friend.^(A)

² It is the glory of God to conceal a matter;
    to search out a matter is the glory of kings.^(A)
3 As the heavens are high and the earth is deep,
    so the hearts of kings are unsearchable.

⁴ Remove the dross from the silver,
    and a silversmith can produce a vessel;
⁵ remove wicked officials from the king’s presence,^(B)
    and his throne will be established^(C) through righteousness.^(D)

⁶ Do not exalt yourself in the king’s presence,
    and do not claim a place among his great men;
⁷ it is better for him to say to you, “Come up here,”^(E)
    than for him to humiliate you before his nobles.

What you have seen with your eyes

¹⁵ Through patience a ruler can be persuaded,^(A)
    and a gentle tongue can break a bone.^(B)

² When a country is rebellious, it has many rulers,
    but a ruler with discernment and knowledge maintains order.

³ A ruler^[a] who oppresses the poor
    is like a driving rain that leaves no crops.

¹⁵ Like a roaring lion or a charging bear
    is a wicked ruler over a helpless people.

¹⁶ A tyrannical ruler practices extortion,
    but one who hates ill-gotten gain will enjoy a long reign.

⁴ By justice a king gives a country stability,^(A)
    but those who are greedy for^[a] bribes tear it down.

¹² If a ruler^(A) listens to lies,
    all his officials become wicked.^(B)