You may set, yes, set over you some to hold office
Who are aware that the Breath of Life is One,
Uniting all, breathing into life all God’s Creation.
You may not give power to those so alienated
As not to feel that you are kin tothem.

Indeed! --  the officials whom you choose
must not multiply the horses of a cavalry,
a standing army to invade other nations and oppress your own;
Your choice must not return the people
to living in a Tight and Narrow Place – that’s slavery!
For the Breath of Life has said to you:
You must not return yourself or others
to ignorance, to poverty, to subservience, or despair–-
all slavery!

The ones you choose must not become addicted tosexual obsessions,
Or to taking bribes or favors from the wealthy
For in these ways their heartswill be turned aside
From wisdom and compassion.
 
But it shall be when they sit in the halls and seats of power,
They are to clarify their understanding of Most Sacred Wisdom
And face the caring public; share their vision
inways that could with honor
face the wisdom of our wisest forebears,
prophets and holy teachers,
andso be worthy of our trust.

  Their understanding of the Sacred Wisdom
is to remain beside them,
to read it and rewrite it as each day, each dawn,
Brings new knowledge and new insight to our lives --
To make certain that the rulers whom we choose
Will remain steadfast in knowing that all Creation
deserves, demands, our wonder and our healing,
so that their hearts notrise in arrogance above their kinfolk,
all Earth and all her life-forms –
that they not turn-aside from what connects us all.

Only in this way can we prolong our days
among all peoples, all life-forms --
we and all our children!

[A midrashic interpretation of Deuteronomy 17: 14-20]