8 Heb “[It is] not for kings.”
9 This second warning for kings concerns the use of alcohol. If this passage is meant to prohibit any use of alcohol by kings, it would be unheard of in any ancient royal court. What is probably meant is an excessive and unwarranted use of alcohol, or a troubling need for it, so that the meaning is “to drink wine in excess” (cf. “to guzzle wine”; “should not get drunk”). The danger, of course, would be that excessive use of alcohol would cloud the mind and deprive a king of true administrative ability and justice.
10 The has אֵו (’ev), a Kethib/Qere reading. The Kethib is אוֹ (’o) but the Qere is אֵי (’ey). Some follow the Qere and take the word as a shortened form of וַֹיֵּה, “where?” This would mean the ruler would be always asking for drink (cf. ). Others reconstruct to אַוֵּה (’avveh, “to desire; to crave”). In either case, the verse would be saying that a king is not to be wanting/seeking alcohol. Here “strong drink” probably refers to barley beer (cf. , “beer”).
11 The verb means “change,” perhaps expressed in reversing decisions or removing rights.
12 Heb “all the children of poverty.” This expression refers to the poor by nature. Cf. , , “the afflicted”; “oppressed.”
13 The word is דִּין (din, “judgment”; so ). In this passage it refers to the cause or the plea for justice, i.e., the “legal rights.”

In other versions

It is not for kings, O Lemuel,

it is not for kings to drink wine,

or for rulers to take strong drink,

lest they drink and forget what has been decreed

and pervert the rights of all the afflicted.

It is not for kings, Lemuel—

it is not for kings to drink wine,

not for rulers to crave beer,

lest they drink and forget what has been decreed,

and deprive all the oppressed of their rights.

It is not for kings, Lemuel,

it is not for kings to drink wine

or for rulers to desire beer.

Otherwise, he will drink,

forget what is decreed,

and pervert justice for all the oppressed.

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

Rulers should not crave alcohol.

For if they drink, they may forget the law

and not give justice to the oppressed.

It is not for the kings, O Lemuel;

drinking wine is not for the kings,

nor is strong drink for rulers.

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

and he will pervert the rights of all the afflicted.

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

Nor for princes strong drink:

Lest they drink, and forget the law,

And pervert the judgment of any of the afflicted.

Public Domain