Proverbs 31:4–7
4 It is not for kings, Lemuel—
it is not for kings to drink wine,v
not for rulers to crave beer,
5 lest they drinkw and forget what has been decreed,x
and deprive all the oppressed of their rights.
6 Let beer be for those who are perishing,
winey for those who are in anguish!
7 Let them drinkz and forget their poverty
and remember their misery no more.
Proverbs 31:4–7 — English Standard Version (ESV)
4 It is not for kings, O Lemuel,
it is not for kings to drink wine,
or for rulers to take strong drink,
5 lest they drink and forget what has been decreed
and pervert the rights of all the afflicted.
6 Give strong drink to the 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.
Proverbs 31:4–7 — King James Version (KJV 1900)
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.
Proverbs 31:4–7 — New Living Translation (NLT)
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.
Proverbs 31:4–7 — The New King James Version (NKJV)
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.
Proverbs 31:4–7 — New Century Version (NCV)
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.
Proverbs 31:4–7 — American Standard Version (ASV)
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.
Proverbs 31:4–7 — 1890 Darby Bible (DARBY)
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.
Proverbs 31:4–7 — GOD’S WORD Translation (GW)
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.
Proverbs 31:4–7 — The Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
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.
Proverbs 31:4–7 — The New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)
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.
Proverbs 31:4–7 — The Lexham English Bible (LEB)
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.
Proverbs 31:4–7 — New International Reader’s Version (1998) (NIrV)
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.
Proverbs 31:4–7 — New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update (NASB95)
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.