2 Listen, my son! Listen, son of my womb!

Listen, my son, the answer to my prayers!

3 Do not spend your strength on women,

your vigor on those who ruin kings.

4 It is not for kings, Lemuel—

it is not for kings to drink wine,

not for rulers to crave beer,

5 lest they drink and forget what has been decreed,

and deprive all the oppressed of their rights.

6 Let beer be for those who are perishing,

wine for those who are in anguish!

7 Let them drink and forget their poverty

and remember their misery no more.

8 Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves,

for the rights of all who are destitute.

9 Speak up and judge fairly;

defend the rights of the poor and needy.

2 What, my son? and what, the son of my womb?

And what, the son of my vows?

3 Give not thy strength unto women,

Nor thy ways to that which destroyeth kings.

4 It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine;

Nor for princes strong drink:

5 Lest they drink, and forget the law,

And pervert the judgment of any of the afflicted.

6 Give strong drink unto him that is ready to perish,

And wine unto those that be of heavy hearts.

7 Let him drink, and forget his poverty,

And remember his misery no more.

8 Open thy mouth for the dumb

In the cause of all such as are appointed to destruction.

9 Open thy mouth, judge righteously,

And plead the cause of the poor and needy.

2 O my son, O son of my womb,

O son of my vows,

3 do not waste your strength on women,

on those who ruin kings.

4 It is not for kings, O Lemuel, to guzzle wine.

Rulers should not crave alcohol.

5 For if they drink, they may forget the law

and not give justice to the oppressed.

6 Alcohol is for the dying,

and wine for those in bitter distress.

7 Let them drink to forget their poverty

and remember their troubles no more.

8 Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves;

ensure justice for those being crushed.

9 Yes, speak up for the poor and helpless,

and see that they get justice.

2 What, my son?

And what, son of my womb?

And what, son of my vows?

3 Do not give your strength to women,

Nor your ways to that which destroys kings.

4 It is not for kings, O Lemuel,

It is not for kings to drink wine,

Nor for princes intoxicating drink;

5 Lest they drink and forget the law,

And pervert the justice of all the afflicted.

6 Give strong drink to him who is perishing,

And wine to those who are bitter of heart.

7 Let him drink and forget his poverty,

And remember his misery no more.

8 Open your mouth for the speechless,

In the cause of all who are appointed to die.

9 Open your mouth, judge righteously,

And plead the cause of the poor and needy.

2 “My son, I gave birth to you.

You are the son I prayed for.

3 Don’t waste your strength on women

or your time on those who ruin kings.

4 “Kings should not drink wine, Lemuel,

and rulers should not desire beer.

5 If they drink, they might forget the law

and keep the needy from getting their rights.

6 Give beer to people who are dying

and wine to those who are sad.

7 Let them drink and forget their need

and remember their misery no more.

8 “Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves;

defend the rights of all those who have nothing.

9 Speak up and judge fairly,

and defend the rights of the poor and needy.”

2 What, my son? and what, O son of my womb?

And what, O son of my vows?

3 Give not thy strength unto women,

Nor thy ways to that which destroyeth kings.

4 It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine;

Nor for princes to say, Where is strong drink?

5 Lest they drink, and forget the law,

And pervert the justice due to any that is afflicted.

6 Give strong drink unto him that is ready to perish,

And wine unto the bitter in soul:

7 Let him drink, and forget his poverty,

And remember his misery no more.

8 Open thy mouth for the dumb,

In the cause of all such as are left desolate.

9 Open thy mouth, judge righteously,

And minister justice to the poor and needy.

2 What, my son? and what, O son of my womb? and what, O son of my vows? 3 Give not thy strength unto women, nor thy ways to them that destroy kings. 4 It is not for kings, Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine, nor for rulers to say, Where is the strong drink? 5 —lest they drink and forget the law, and pervert the judgment of any of the children of affliction. 6 Give strong drink unto him that is ready to perish, and wine unto the bitter of soul: 7 let him drink, and forget his poverty, and remember his misery no more. 8 Open thy mouth for the dumb, for the cause of all those that are left desolate. 9 Open thy mouth, judge righteously, and minister justice to the afflicted and needy.

2 “What, my son? 

What, son to whom I gave birth? 

What, son of my prayers? 

3 Don’t give your strength to women 

or your power to those who ruin kings. 

4 “It is not for kings, Lemuel. 

It is not for kings to drink wine or for rulers to crave liquor. 

5 Otherwise, they drink and forget what they have decreed 

and change the standard of justice for all oppressed people. 

6 Give liquor to a person who is dying 

and wine to one who feels resentful. 

7 Such a person drinks 

and forgets his poverty 

and does not remember his trouble anymore. 

8 “Speak out for the one who cannot speak, 

for the rights of those who are doomed. 

9 Speak out, 

judge fairly, 

and defend the rights of oppressed and needy people.” 

2 What should I say, my son?

What, son of my womb?

What, son of my vows?

3 Don’t spend your energy on women

or your efforts on those who destroy kings.

4 It is not for kings, Lemuel,

it is not for kings to drink wine

or for rulers to desire beer.

5 Otherwise, they will drink,

forget what is decreed,

and pervert justice for all the oppressed.

6 Give beer to one who is dying

and wine to one whose life is bitter.

7 Let him drink so that he can forget his poverty

and remember his trouble no more.

8 Speak up for those who have no voice,

for the justice of all who are dispossessed.

9 Speak up, judge righteously,

and defend the cause of the oppressed and needy.

2 No, my son! No, son of my womb!

No, son of my vows!

3 Do not give your strength to women,

your ways to those who destroy kings.

4 It is not for kings, O Lemuel,

it is not for kings to drink wine,

or for rulers to desire strong drink;

5 or else they will drink and forget what has been decreed,

and will pervert the rights of all the afflicted.

6 Give strong drink to one who is perishing,

and wine to those in bitter distress;

7 let them drink and forget their poverty,

and remember their misery no more.

8 Speak out for those who cannot speak,

for the rights of all the destitute.

9 Speak out, judge righteously,

defend the rights of the poor and needy.

2 What, my son? And what, my son in my womb?

And what, son of my vows?

3 Do not give your strength to the women,

and your ways to destroy kings.

4 It is not for the kings, O Lemuel;

drinking wine is not for the kings,

nor is strong drink for rulers.

5 Or else he will drink and forget what has been decreed,

and he will pervert the rights of all the afflicted.

6 Give strong drink to him who is perishing,

and wine to those in bitter distress.

7 He will drink and forget his poverty,

and his misery he will not remember any more.

8 Open your mouth for the mute,

for the rights of all the needy.

9 Open your mouth, judge righteousness,

and defend the poor and needy.

2 She said, “My son! My very own son!

The son I prayed for!

3 Don’t waste your strength on women.

Don’t waste it on those who destroy kings.

4 “Lemuel, it isn’t good for kings to drink wine.

It isn’t good for rulers to long for beer.

5 If they do, they might drink and forget what the law commands.

They might take away the rights of all those who are beaten down.

6 Give beer to those who are dying.

Give wine to those who are sad and troubled.

7 Let them drink and forget how poor they are.

Let them forget their suffering.

8 “Speak up for those who can’t speak for themselves.

Speak up for the rights of all those who are poor.

9 Speak up and judge fairly.

Speak up for the rights of those who are poor and needy.”

2 What, O my son?

And what, O son of my womb?

And what, O son of my vows?

3 Do not give your strength to women,

Or your ways to that which destroys kings.

4 It is not for kings, O Lemuel,

It is not for kings to drink wine,

Or for rulers to desire strong drink,

5 For they will drink and forget what is decreed,

And pervert the rights of all the afflicted.

6 Give strong drink to him who is perishing,

And wine to him whose life is bitter.

7 Let him drink and forget his poverty

And remember his trouble no more.

8 Open your mouth for the mute,

For the rights of all the unfortunate.

9 Open your mouth, judge righteously,

And defend the rights of the afflicted and needy.