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 Those who love a pure heart—
    their speech is gracious, and the king is their friend.

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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

23 When you sit down to dine with a ruler,
    carefully consider what is in front of you.
Place a knife at your throat
    to control your appetite.
Don’t long for the ruler’s delicacies;
    the food misleads.

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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 Fear the Lord, my child, as well as the king.
    Don’t associate with those who are rebellious.
22 Disaster comes suddenly from them.
    Who can know the ruin that both can bring?

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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 hide something
    and the glory of kings to discover something.
Like the high heavens and the depths of the earth,
    so the mind of a king is unsearchable.

Remove the dross from the silver,
    and a vessel will come out for the refiner.
Remove 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 stand in the place of important people,
    because it is better that he say to you,
    “Come up here,”
    than to be demoted before a ruler.

What your eyes see,

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

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15 A commander can be persuaded with patience,
    and a tender tongue can break a bone.

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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 rebels, there are many leaders;
    but a person with understanding brings order.
Poor people who oppress the needy
    are rain that washes away food.

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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 wicked ruler over the poor
    is like a growling lion or a prowling bear.
16 A prince without understanding is a cruel oppressor,
    but one who hates unjust gain will live long.

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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 gives stability to the land by justice,
    but one who imposes heavy taxes tears it down.

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

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12 If a ruler listens to lies,
    those who serve him will be 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 If a king judges the poor honestly,
    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 access to the ruler,
    but justice comes from the Lord.

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