The Sayings for King Lemuel

31 These are the words of King Lemuel—the burden that his mother taught him:

2 What shall I say,[fn] O my son?

What, O son of my womb?

What, O son of my vows?

3 Do not spend your strength on women

or your vigor on those who ruin 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 and forget what is decreed,

depriving all the oppressed of justice.

6 Give strong drink to one who is perishing,

and wine to the bitter in soul.

7 Let him drink and forget his poverty,

and remember his misery no more.

8 Open your mouth for those with no voice,

for the cause of all the dispossessed.

9 Open your mouth, judge righteously,

and defend the cause of the poor and needy.