2 “What, my son?What, son to whom I gave birth?What, son of my prayers?
3 Don’t give your strength to womenor your power to those who ruin kings.
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 decreedand change the standard of justice for all oppressed people.
6 Give liquor to a person who is dyingand wine to one who feels resentful.
7 Such a person drinksand forgets his povertyand does not remember his trouble anymore.
8 “Speak out for the one who cannot speak,for the rights of those who are doomed.