²⁸ Loyalty and faithfulness guard a king;
through loyalty he maintains his throne.

⁸ A guilty one’s conduct is crooked,^(A)
but the behavior of the innocent is upright.^(B)

²⁹ A wicked person puts on a bold face,^(A)
but the upright one considers his way.

¹⁰ Drive out a mocker,^(A) and conflict goes too;
then quarreling and dishonor will cease.^(B)

¹¹ The one who loves a pure heart
and gracious lips—the king is his friend.^(C)

23 When you sit down to dine with a ruler,
consider carefully what^[a] is before you,
² and put a knife to your throat
if you have a big^[b] appetite;
³ don’t desire his choice food,^(A)
for that food is deceptive.

⁶ Don’t eat a stingy person’s bread,^[a](A)
and don’t desire his choice food,^(B)
7 for it’s like someone calculating inwardly.^[b](C)
“Eat and drink,” he says to you,
but his heart is not with you.^(D)
8 You will vomit the little you’ve eaten
and waste your pleasant words.