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11 He who loves purity of heart and speaks gracefully
    is the king’s friend.

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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

23 When you sit to eat with a ruler,
    consider diligently what is before you;
put a knife to your throat,
    if you are a man given to appetite.
Don’t be desirous of his dainties,
    since they are deceitful food.

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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

21 My son, fear Yahweh and the king.
    Don’t join those who are rebellious;
22 for their calamity will rise suddenly.
    Who knows what destruction may come from them both?

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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 thing,
    but the glory of kings is to search out a matter.
As the heavens for height, and the earth for depth,
    so the hearts of kings are unsearchable.
Take away the dross from the silver,
    and material comes out for the refiner;
Take away the wicked from the king’s presence,
    and his throne will be established in righteousness.
Don’t exalt yourself in the presence of the king,
    or claim a place among great men;
for it is better that it be said to you, “Come up here,”
    than that you should be put lower in the presence of the prince,
    whom your eyes have seen.

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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 By patience a ruler is persuaded.
    A soft tongue breaks the bone.

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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

In rebellion, a land has many rulers,
    but order is maintained by a man of understanding and knowledge.
A needy man who oppresses the poor
    is like a driving rain which leaves no crops.

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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 As a roaring lion or a charging bear,
    so is a wicked ruler over helpless people.
16 A tyrannical ruler lacks judgment.
    One who hates ill-gotten gain will have long days.

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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

The king by justice makes the land stable,
    but he who takes bribes tears it down.

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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 listens to lies,
    all of his officials are wicked.

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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 The king who fairly judges the poor,
    his throne shall be established forever.

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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 the ruler’s favor,
    but a man’s justice comes from Yahweh.

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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