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

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

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

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

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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 listens to lies,
    all of his officials are wicked.

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12 If a ruler listens to lies,
    those who serve him will be wicked.

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

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

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26 Many seek access to the ruler,
    but justice comes from the Lord.

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