17. Happy (fortunate and to be envied) are you, O land, when your king is a free man and of noble birth and character and when your officials feast at the proper time–for strength and not for drunkenness! [Isa. 32:8.]
18. Through indolence the rafters [of state affairs] decay and the roof sinks in, and through idleness of the hands the house leaks.
19. [Instead of repairing the breaches, the officials] make a feast for laughter, serve wine to cheer life, and [depend on tax] money to answer for all of it.
20. Curse not the king, no, not even in your thoughts, and curse not the rich in your bedchamber, for a bird of the air will carry the voice, and a winged creature will tell the matter. [Exod. 22:28.]