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

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.

²¹ My son, fear the Lord, as well as the king,^(A)
and don’t associate with rebels,^[a]
22 for destruction will come suddenly from them;
who knows what distress these two can bring?

² It is the glory of God to conceal a matter^(A)
and the glory of kings to investigate a matter.
³ As the heavens are high and the earth is deep,
so the hearts of kings cannot be investigated.

⁴ Remove impurities from silver,^(B)
and material will be produced^[a] for a silversmith.^[b](C)
5 Remove the wicked from the king’s presence,^(D)
and his throne will be established in righteousness.^(E)

⁶ Don’t boast about yourself before the king,
and don’t stand in the place of the great;
⁷ for it is better for him to say to you, “Come up here!”
than to demote you in plain view of a noble.^[c](F)

² When a land is in rebellion, it has many rulers,^(A)
but with a discerning and knowledgeable person, it endures.

³ A destitute leader^[a] who oppresses the poor
is like a driving rain that leaves no food.^(B)

¹⁵ A wicked ruler over a helpless people^(A)
is like a roaring lion or a charging bear.^(B)

¹⁶ A leader who lacks understanding
is very oppressive,
but one who hates dishonest profit
prolongs his life.^(C)

⁴ By justice a king brings stability to a land,^(A)
but a person who demands “contributions”^[a]
demolishes it.^(B)

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