It is not for kings, O Lemuel, It is not for kings to drink wine, Or for rulers to desire strong drink, For they will drink and forget what is decreed, And pervert the rights of all the afflicted. Private acts of rulers can and do pervert public justice and good order. Loyalty and truth preserve the king, And he upholds his throne by righteousness. The abandonment of truth and loyalty to covenants undermines the leadership of a ruler. But a man who takes bribes overthrows it.
Bribery is at root the issue of private truthfulness and acting on principle.
Thus when this is forsaken, justice is overthrown. If a ruler pays attention to falsehood, All his ministers become wicked. The minimizing of truthfulness corrupts others so that the entire government becomes less reliable. Prayer for our political leaders. First of all, then, I urge that entreaties and prayers, petitions and thanksgivings, be made on behalf of all men, for kings and all who are in authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity.