28  In ^ra multitude of people is the glory of a king,

but without people a prince is ruined.

7  Fine speech is not ^wbecoming to a fool;

still less is ^xfalse speech to a prince.

6  Many seek the favor of a generous man,¹

and everyone is a friend to a man who gives ⁱgifts.

1  When you sit down to eat with a ruler,

observe carefully what¹ is before you,

2  and put a knife to your throat

if you are given to appetite.

3  ^cDo not desire his delicacies,

for they are deceptive food.

15  With ^epatience a ruler may be persuaded,

and a soft tongue will break a bone.

2  When a land transgresses, ^eit has many rulers,

but with a man of understanding and knowledge,

its stability will long continue.

12  If a ruler listens to falsehood,

all his officials will be wicked.

26  Many ^jseek the face of a ruler,

but it is from the Lord that a man ^kgets justice.