16 Woe to the land whose king was a servant

and whose princes feast in the morning.

17 Blessed is the land whose king is of noble birth

and whose princes eat at a proper time—

for strength and not for drunkenness.

16 Woe to you, O land, when your king is a child,

and your princes feast in the morning!

17 Happy are you, O land, when your king is the son of the nobility,

and your princes feast at the proper time,

for strength, and not for drunkenness!

16 Woe to thee, O land, when thy king is a child, and thy princes eat in the morning! 17 Blessed art thou, O land, when thy king is the son of nobles, and thy princes eat in due season, for strength, and not for drunkenness!

16 What sorrow for the land ruled by a servant,

the land whose leaders feast in the morning.

17 Happy is the land whose king is a noble leader

and whose leaders feast at the proper time

to gain strength for their work, not to get drunk.

16 How terrible it is for a country whose king is a child

and whose leaders eat all morning.

17 How lucky a country is whose king comes from a good family,

whose leaders eat only at mealtime

and for strength, not to get drunk.

16 Woe to thee, O land, when thy king is a child, and thy princes eat in the morning! 17 Happy art thou, O land, when thy king is the son of nobles, and thy princes eat in due season, for strength, and not for drunkenness!

16 Woe to thee, O land, when thy king is a child, and thy princes eat in the morning! 17 Happy art thou, O land, when thy king is a son of nobles, and thy princes eat in due season, for strength, and not for drunkenness!

16 How horrible it will be for any country where the king used to be a servant and where the high officials throw parties in the morning. 17 A country is blessed when the king is from a noble family and when the high officials eat at the right time in order to get strength and not to get drunk. 

16 Woe to you, land, when your king is a youth

and your princes feast in the morning.

17 Blessed are you, land, when your king is a son of nobles

and your princes feast at the proper time—

for strength and not for drunkenness.

16 Alas for you, O land, when your king is a servant,

and your princes feast in the morning!

17 Happy are you, O land, when your king is a nobleman,

and your princes feast at the proper time—

for strength, and not for drunkenness!

16 Woe to you, O land, when your king is a youth

and your princes feast in the morning.

17 Blessed are you, O land, when your king is a son of nobility

and your princes feast at the proper time—

to gain strength and not to get drunk.

16 How terrible it is for a land whose king used to be a servant!

How terrible if its princes get drunk in the morning!

17 How blessed is the land whose king was born into the royal family!

How blessed if its princes eat and drink at the proper time!

How blessed if they eat and drink to become strong and not to get drunk!

16 Woe to you, O land, whose king is a lad and whose princes feast in the morning.

17 Blessed are you, O land, whose king is of nobility and whose princes eat at the appropriate time—for strength and not for drunkenness.