1 The words of King Lemuel, an oracle that his mother taught him:
2 O my son, O son of my womb, O son of my vows,
3 do not give your vigor to women, or your ways to what ruins kings.
4 It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine, or for rulers to crave strong drink,
5 lest they drink, forget what is decreed, and pervert justice for all the oppressed.
6 Give strong drink to one who is dying, and wine to those who are bitterly distressed—
7 let him drink, forget his poverty, and remember his misery no more.