²⁸ Mercy and truth preserve the king, and his throne is upheld by mercy.

⁸ The way of man is froward and strange, but as for the pure, his work is right.

²⁹ A wicked man hardeneth his face, but as for the upright, he considereth his ways.

¹⁰ Cast out the scorner, and contention shall go away; yea, strife and reproach shall cease.

¹¹ He that loveth pureness of heart: for the grace of his lips the king shall be his friend.

23 When thou sittest to eat with a ruler, consider diligently what is before thee;

² and put a knife to thy throat if thou be a man given to appetite.

³ Be not desirous of his dainties, for they are deceitful meat.

⁶ Eat thou not the bread of him that hath an evil eye, neither desire thou his dainty meats;

⁷ for as he thinketh in his heart, so is he. “Eat and drink,” saith he to thee, but his heart is not with thee.

⁸ The morsel which thou hast eaten shalt thou vomit up, and lose thy sweet words.

⁵ Take away the wicked from the presence of the king, and his throne shall be established in righteousness.

⁶ He that sendeth a message by the hand of a fool cutteth off the feet and drinketh violence.

¹⁰ The great God who formed all things both rewardeth the fool and rewardeth transgressors.

²⁴ He that hateth dissembleth with his lips and layeth up deceit within him;

²⁵ when he speaketh fair believe him not, for there are seven abominations in his heart.

²⁶ Whose hatred is covered by deceit, his wickedness shall be shown before the whole congregation.

²⁷ Whoso diggeth a pit shall fall therein, and he that rolleth a stone, it will return upon him.

²⁸ A lying tongue hateth those that are afflicted by it, and a flattering mouth worketh ruin.