The Sayings for King Lemuel

[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.

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