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.”
14 Wine and beer should be given to those distressed and dying in order to ease their suffering and help them forget.
15 Heb “to the bitter of soul.” The phrase לְמָרֵי נָפֶשׁ (lémare nafesh) has been translated “of heavy hearts” (); “in anguish” (); “in misery” (); “in bitter distress” (); “sorely depressed” (); “in deep depression (); “have lost all hope” (). The word “bitter” (מַר, mar) describes the physical and mental/spiritual suffering as a result of affliction, grief, or suffering—these people are in emotional pain. So the idea of “bitterly distressed” works as well as any other translation.
16 The subjects and suffixes are singular (cf. , , ). Most other English versions render this as plural for stylistic reasons, in light of the preceding context.
17 The king was not to “drink and forget”; the suffering are to “drink and forget.”

In other versions

ESVEnglish Standard Version

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.

Give strong drink to the one who is perishing,

and wine to those in bitter distress;

let them drink and forget their poverty

and remember their misery no more.

NIVNew International Version (2011)

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.

Let beer be for those who are perishing,

wine for those who are in anguish!

Let them drink and forget their poverty

and remember their misery no more.

CSBChristian Standard Bible

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.

Give beer to one who is dying

and wine to one whose life is bitter.

Let him drink so that he can forget his poverty

and remember his trouble no more.

NLTNew Living Translation

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.

Alcohol is for the dying,

and wine for those in bitter distress.

Let them drink to forget their poverty

and remember their troubles no more.

LEBThe Lexham English Bible

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.

Give strong drink to him who is perishing,

and wine to those in bitter distress.

He will drink and forget his poverty,

and his misery he will not remember any more.

KJV 1900King James Version

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.

Give strong drink unto him that is ready to perish,

And wine unto those that be of heavy hearts.

Let him drink, and forget his poverty,

And remember his misery no more.

Public Domain