11 One who loves (A)purity of heart
And [a]whose speech is (B)gracious, the king is his friend.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 22:11 Lit has grace on his lips

11 He who loves purity of heart,
    and whose speech is gracious, will have the king as his friend.

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On Life and Conduct

23 When you sit down to dine with a ruler,
Consider carefully [a]what is before you,
And put a knife to your throat
If you are a (A)person of great appetite.
Do not (B)desire his delicacies,
For it is deceptive food.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 23:1 Or who

23 When you sit down to eat with a ruler,
    observe carefully what[a] is before you;
and put a knife to your throat
    if you are a man given to appetite.
Do not desire his delicacies,
    for they are deceptive food.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 23:1 Or who

21 My son, [a](A)fear the Lord and the king;
Do not get involved with those [b]of high rank,
22 For their (B)disaster will rise suddenly,
And who knows the ruin that can come from both of them?

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 24:21 Or revere
  2. Proverbs 24:21 Or who change

21 My son, fear the Lord and the king,
    and do not disobey either of them;[a]
22 for disaster from them will rise suddenly,
    and who knows the ruin that will come from them both?

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 24:21 Gk: Heb do not associate with those who change

It is the glory of God to (A)conceal a matter,
But the glory of (B)kings is to search out a matter.
As the heavens for height and the earth for depth,
So the heart of kings is unsearchable.
Take away the [a](C)impurities from the silver,
And there comes out a vessel for the (D)smith;
Take away the (E)wicked before the king,
And his (F)throne will be established in righteousness.
Do not boast in the presence of the king,
And do not stand in the same place [b]as great people;
For (G)it is better that it be said to you, “Come up here,”
Than for you to be placed lower in the presence of the prince,
Whom your eyes have seen.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 25:4 Lit dross
  2. Proverbs 25:6 Lit of

It is the glory of God to conceal things,
    but the glory of kings is to search things out.
As the heavens for height, and the earth for depth,
    so the mind of kings is unsearchable.
Take away the dross from the silver,
    and the smith has material for a vessel;
take away the wicked from the presence of the king,
    and his throne will be established in righteousness.
Do not put yourself forward in the king’s presence
    or stand in the place of the great;
for it is better to be told, “Come up here,”
    than to be put lower in the presence of the prince.

What your eyes have seen

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15 Through [a](A)patience a ruler may be persuaded,
And a gentle tongue breaks bone.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 25:15 Lit length of anger

15 With patience a ruler may be persuaded,
    and a soft tongue will break a bone.

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Due to a [a]wrongdoing of [b]a land its leaders are (A)many,
But (B)by a person of understanding and knowledge, so it endures.
A (C)poor man who oppresses the helpless
Is like a driving rain [c]which leaves no food.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 28:2 Or rebellion
  2. Proverbs 28:2 I.e., the people of a land
  3. Proverbs 28:3 Lit and there is no bread

When a land transgresses
    it has many rulers;
but with men of understanding and knowledge
    its stability will long continue.
A poor man who oppresses the poor
    is a beating rain that leaves no food.

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15 Like a (A)roaring lion and a rushing bear
Is a (B)wicked ruler over a poor people.
16 A (C)leader who is a great oppressor lacks understanding,
But a person who hates unjust gain will prolong his days.

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15 Like a roaring lion or a charging bear
    is a wicked ruler over a poor people.
16 A ruler who lacks understanding is a cruel oppressor;
    but he who hates unjust gain will prolong his days.

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The (A)king gives stability to the land by justice,
But a person who takes bribes ruins it.

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By justice a king gives stability to the land,
    but one who exacts gifts ruins it.

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12 If a (A)ruler pays attention to falsehood,
All his ministers become wicked.

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12 If a ruler listens to falsehood,
    all his officials will be wicked.

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14 If a (A)king judges the poor with truth,
His (B)throne will be established forever.

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14 If a king judges the poor with equity
    his throne will be established for ever.

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26 (A)Many seek the ruler’s [a]favor,
But (B)justice for mankind comes from the Lord.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 29:26 Lit face

26 Many seek the favor of a ruler,
    but from the Lord a man gets justice.

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