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

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11 Whoever loves purity[a] and gracious speech
    will gain the king as his friend.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 22:11 Lit. purity of heart

Saying 7

23 When you sit to dine with a ruler,
    note well what[a] is before you,
and put a knife to your throat
    if you are given to gluttony.
Do not crave his delicacies,(A)
    for that food is deceptive.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 23:1 Or who

Things to Avoid in Life

23 Whenever you sit down to dine with a ruler,
carefully think about what is before you.
Put a knife to your own throat,
    if you have a big appetite.[a]
Don’t crave his delicacies,
    because the meal is deceptive.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 23:2 Lit. a master of an appetite

Saying 30

21 Fear the Lord and the king,(A) my son,
    and do not join with rebellious officials,
22 for those two will send sudden destruction(B) on them,
    and who knows what calamities they can bring?

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21 My son, fear both the Lord and the king,
    and don’t keep company with rebels.
22 They will be destroyed suddenly,
    and who knows what kind of punishment will come from these two?

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

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

Do not exalt yourself in the king’s presence,
    and do not claim a place among his great men;
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

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It is the glory of God to conceal a matter,
    and the glory of kings to investigate a matter.
Just as the heavens are high
    and earth is deep,
        so the heart of a king is unfathomable.

Purge the dross from the silver,
    and material for[a] a vessel comes forth for the silversmith.
Purge the wicked from the king’s presence,
    and his throne will be established in righteousness.

Don’t magnify yourself in the presence of a king,
    and don’t pretend to be in the company of famous men,
for it is better that it be told you, “Come up here,”
    than for you to be placed lower
        in the presence of an official.

What you’ve seen with your own eyes,

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 25:4 The Heb. lacks material for

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

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15 Through patience a ruler may be persuaded;
    a gentle word[a] can break a bone.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 25:15 Lit. tongue

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

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

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 28:3 Or A poor person

When a land transgresses,
    it gains a succession of leaders,
but with an understanding and knowledgeable man,
    its stability endures.

A poor man who oppresses the weak
    is like a rainstorm that destroys all[a] the crops.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 28:3 Lit. that leaves no

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.

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15 A roaring lion and a charging bear—
    that’s what a wicked tyrant is over poor people.
16 A Commander-in-Chief[a] who is a cruel oppressor lacks understanding,
    but whoever hates unjust gain will live longer.[b]

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 28:16 Lit. Nagid; i.e. a senior officer entrusted with dual roles of operational oversight and administrative authority
  2. Proverbs 28:16 Lit. will lengthen his days

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

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 29:4 Or who give

A king brings stability to a land through justice,
    but a man who takes bribes brings it to ruin.

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

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12 When a ruler is listening to lies,
    all of his officials tend to become wicked.

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

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14 When a king faithfully administers justice to the poor,
    his throne will be established forever.

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26 Many seek an audience with a ruler,(A)
    but it is from the Lord that one gets justice.(B)

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26 Many seek a ruler’s favor,[a]
    but justice for a man comes from the Lord.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 29:26 Lit. face