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.

²¹ My son, fear thou the Lord and the king, and mingle not with them that are given to change;

²² for their calamity shall rise suddenly, and who knoweth the ruin of them both?

² It is the glory of God to conceal a thing, but the honor of kings is to search out a matter.

³ As the heaven for height and the earth for depth, so the heart of kings is unsearchable.

⁴ Take away the dross from the silver, and there shall come forth a vessel for the refiner.

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

⁶ Put not forth thyself in the presence of the king, and stand not in the place of great men;

⁷ for better it is that it be said unto thee, “Come up hither,” than that thou shouldest be put lower in the presence of the prince whom thine eyes have seen.

¹⁵ By much forbearance is a prince persuaded, and a soft tongue breaketh the bone.