Proverbs

¹THE WORDS of Lemuel king of Massa, which his mother taught him: ²What, my son? What, son of my womb? What [shall I advise you], son of my vows and dedication to God? ³Give not your strength to [loose] women, nor your ways to those who and that which ruin and destroy kings. ⁴It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine, or for rulers to desire strong drink, [Eccl. 10:17; Hos. 4:11.] ⁵Lest they drink and forget the law and what it decrees, and pervert the justice due any of the afflicted. ⁶Give strong drink [as medicine] to him who is ready to pass away, and wine to him in bitter distress of heart. ⁷Let him drink and forget his poverty and [seriously] remember his want and misery no more.