Proverbs 31:1–9

The words of King Lemuel. An oracle that his mother taught him:

What are you doing, my son? What are you doing, son of my womb?

What are you doing, son of my vows?

Do not give your strength to women,

your ways to those who destroy kings.

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.

Open your mouth for the mute,

for the rights of all who are destitute.

Open your mouth, judge righteously,

defend the rights of the poor and needy.

The words of King Lemuel,

a pronouncement that his mother taught him:

What should I say, my son?

What, son of my womb?

What, son of my vows?

Don’t spend your energy on women

or your efforts on those who destroy kings.

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.

Speak up for those who have no voice,

for the justice of all who are dispossessed.

Speak up, judge righteously,

and defend the cause of the oppressed and needy.

The sayings of King Lemuel contain this message, which his mother taught him.

O my son, O son of my womb,

O son of my vows,

do not waste your strength on women,

on those who ruin kings.

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.

Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves;

ensure justice for those being crushed.

Yes, speak up for the poor and helpless,

and see that they get justice.

The words of Lemuel, the king—an oracle

that his mother taught him:

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

And what, son of my vows?

Do not give your strength to the women,

and your ways to destroy kings.

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.

Open your mouth for the mute,

for the rights of all the needy.

Open your mouth, judge righteousness,

and defend the poor and needy.

The words of king Lemuel, the prophecy that his mother taught him.

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

And what, the son of my vows?

Give not thy strength unto women,

Nor thy ways to that which destroyeth kings.

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.

Open thy mouth for the dumb

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

Open thy mouth, judge righteously,

And plead the cause of the poor and needy.