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,^(A)
    and his throne will be established^(B) through righteousness.^(C)

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,”^(A)
    than for him to humiliate you before his nobles.

What you have seen with your eyes

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

¹⁴ If a king judges the poor with fairness,
    his throne will be established forever.^(A)

⁴ It is not for kings, Lemuel—
    it is not for kings to drink wine,^(A)
    not for rulers to crave beer,
⁵ lest they drink^(B) and forget what has been decreed,^(C)
    and deprive all the oppressed of their rights.
⁶ Let beer be for those who are perishing,
    wine^(D) for those who are in anguish!
⁷ Let them drink^(E) and forget their poverty
    and remember their misery no more.