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Prov 31 V1 V2 V3 V5 V6 V7 V8 V9 V10 V11 V12 V13 V14 V15 V16 V17 V18 V19 V20 V21 V22 V23 V24 V25 V26 V27 V28 V29 V30 V31

OET interlinear PROV 31:4

◄ ← PROV 31:4 ↓ → ║ ≡ ©

Hebrew word order

    1. Hebrew word
    2. Hebrew lemma
    3. OET-LV words
    4. OET-RV words
    5. Strongs
    6. Role/Morphology
    7. Gloss
    8. CAPS codes
    9. OET tags
    10. OET word #
    1. אַל
    2. 398458
    3. Not
    4. -
    5. 408
    6. P-Tn
    7. not
    8. S
    9. Y-700
    10. 278132
    1. לַֽ,מְלָכִים
    2. 398459,398460
    3. +is for kings
    4. -
    5. 4428
    6. S-Rd,Ncmpa
    7. [is]_for,kings
    8. -
    9. Y-700
    10. 278133
    2. 398461
    3. -
    4. -
    6. -x-paseq
    8. -
    9. -
    10. 278134
    1. לְמוֹאֵל
    2. 398462
    3. Oh Ləmūʼēl
    4. Lemuel
    5. 3927
    6. S-Np
    7. O_Lemuel
    8. -
    9. Person=Lemuel; Y-700
    10. 278135
    1. אַל
    2. 398463
    3. not
    4. -
    5. 408
    6. P-Tn
    7. not
    8. -
    9. Y-700
    10. 278136
    1. לַֽ,מְלָכִים
    2. 398464,398465
    3. for kings
    4. -
    5. 4428
    6. S-Rd,Ncmpa
    7. for,kings
    8. -
    9. Y-700
    10. 278137
    1. שְׁתוֹ
    2. 398466
    3. to drink
    4. drink
    5. 8354
    6. V-Vqc
    7. to_drink
    8. -
    9. Y-700
    10. 278138
    2. 398467
    3. -
    4. -
    6. -x-maqqef
    8. -
    9. -
    10. 278139
    1. יָיִן
    2. 398468
    3. wine
    4. wine
    5. 3196
    6. O-Ncmsa
    7. wine
    8. -
    9. Y-700
    10. 278140
    1. וּ,לְ,רוֹזְנִים
    2. 398469,398470,398471
    3. and for rulers
    4. rulers
    5. 7336
    6. S-C,R,Vqrmpa
    7. and,for,rulers
    8. -
    9. Y-700
    10. 278141
    1. או
    2. 398472
    3. where
    4. -
    6. P-C
    7. where?
    8. -
    9. Y-700
    10. 278142
    2. 398473
    3. -
    4. -
    6. -
    8. -
    9. -
    10. 278143
    1. שֵׁכָר
    2. 398474
    3. strong drink
    4. strong
    5. 7941
    6. S-Ncmsa
    7. strong_drink
    8. -
    9. Y-700
    10. 278144
    2. 398475
    3. -
    4. -
    6. -x-sof-pasuq
    8. -
    9. -
    10. 278145

OET (OET-LV) Not is_for_kings Oh_Ləmūʼēl not for_kings to_drink wine and_for_rulers where[fn] strong_drink.

31:4 OSHB variant note: או: (x-qere) ’אֵ֣י’: lemma_335 morph_HTi id_20nHM אֵ֣י

OET (OET-RV) Lemuel, it’s not for kings to drink wine
 ⇔ or for rulers to crave strong drink,

SIL Open Translator’s Notes:

Section 31:1–9: Here are the sayings of King Lemuel

The verses in this section were written or collected by King Lemuel. They contain advice that his mother gave him regarding the way that a good king should rule his people. Her advice focuses on a king’s relationships with women (v. 3), the use of intoxicating drink (vv. 4–7) and justice for the poor (vv. 8–9). English versions divide the paragraphs in this section in several ways. The paragraphs in the Notes will be divided according to these three topics. The title (v. 1) and introduction (v. 2) will each form a separate paragraph.

Some other headings for this section are:

What King Lemuel’s Mother Taught Him (CEV)

Advice to a King (GNT)

Wise Words of King Lemuel (NCV)

Paragraph 31:4–7

In this paragraph, Lemuel’s mother advises him about the harm that results when a king or ruler craves alcoholic beverages (31:4–5). She also advises him about the appropriate use of such beverages (31:6–7).

31:4

Notice the parallel parts that are similar in meaning:

4aIt is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine,

4b or for rulers to crave strong drink,

31:4a

It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine,

It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine: This line means that kings should not drink wine. In Hebrew, the repetition of the phrase not for kings adds emphasis to the advice.UBS (page 648). According to Hubbard (page 475), the incomplete phrase “not for kings” also creates suspense by making the reader or listener wait for the topic of the warning. In some languages, it may be effective to keep the repetition. For example:

It is not right for kings, O Lemuel. It is not right when kings drink wine.

What is not right for kings, O Lemuel?….

In other languages, it may be more natural to emphasize the advice in other ways. For example:

Kings should not drink wine, Lemuel (NCV)

Listen to me, my son Lemuel. Be careful not to drink wine.

By itself, this line seems to advise kings to avoid drinking any wine. But in context with the parallel line and with 31:5, it probably implies that kings should avoid drinking too much.UBS (page 648) suggests that “the verb should probably be rendered as a habitual action.” Among the commentaries that understand this verse to be a warning against excessive drinking are Ross, Whybray, Garrett, Cohen, Waltke, Fox, Hubbard, and Murphy. Verse 5 clearly refers to getting drunk to the point where the king cannot remember the laws that he supposed to enforce. Waltke (page 507) also points out that the advice in verses 6–7 presupposes that the king has a good supply of wine in the palace. Some versions make this explicit. For example:

It is not for kings, O Lemuel, to guzzle wine (NLT)

Take care, my son, O Lemuel. Kings should not drink too much wine (VOICE)

wine: The word wine refers specifically to an alcoholic drink made from grape juice. See how you translated this word in 9:2.

31:4a–b

(combined/reordered)

31:4b

or for rulers to crave strong drink,

or for rulers to crave strong drink: The word that the BSB translates as rulers is a general term that refers to government leaders.

The phrase strong drink refers to other alcoholic drinks. These include beer made from barley and wine made from dates, figs, or pomegranates. Together the words “wine” and strong drink refer to any kind of intoxicating drink made from grain or fruit. See how you translated these two words in 20:1. Some other ways to translate this line are:

and rulers should not desire beer (NCV)

Or for rulers to desire intoxicating drink (NASB)

or for those who govern to crave strong liquor (REB)

General Comment on 31:4a–b

In some languages, it may be more natural to combine and/or reorder the parallel parts in these lines. For example:

Kings and leaders should not get drunk or even want to drink. (CEV)

Listen, Lemuel. Kings should not drink wine or have a craving for alcohol. (GNT)

uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / reduplication

אַ֤ל לַֽ⁠מְלָכִ֨ים ׀ לְֽמוֹאֵ֗ל אַ֣ל לַֽ⁠מְלָכִ֣ים

not [is]_for,kings Ləmū\sup_ʼēl not for,kings

Here, Lemuel’s mother repeats the same phrase for emphasis. If it would be clearer for your readers, you could use one phrase and express the emphasis in another way. Alternate translation: [It is absolutely not for kings, Lemuel]

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / ellipsis

אַ֤ל לַֽ⁠מְלָכִ֨ים & אַ֣ל לַֽ⁠מְלָכִ֣ים

not [is]_for,kings & not for,kings

Lemuel’s mother is leaving out some of the words that in many languages a sentence would need in order to be complete. You could supply these words from the context if it would be clearer in your language. Alternate translation: [It is not appropriate for kings … it is not appropriate for kings]

Note 3 topic: translate-textvariants

או

craving_of

Some ancient copies and translations say that the word translated as or is a different word that means “desire” or “crave,” which makes sense because of the parallelism with drink wine in the previous clause. If a translation of the Bible already exists in your area, you could consider using the reading in that translation. If there is not already a Bible translation in your area, you may wish to follow the reading of the UST.

OET-LV English word order (‘Reverse’ interlinear)

    1. OET-LV words
    2. OET-RV words
    3. Strongs
    4. Hebrew word
    5. Hebrew lemma
    6. Role/Morphology
    7. Gloss
    8. CAPS codes
    9. OET tags
    10. OET word #
    1. Not
    2. -
    3. 515
    5. 398458
    6. P-Tn
    8. S
    9. Y-700
    10. 278132
    1. +is for kings
    2. -
    3. 3705,4308
    5. 398459,398460
    6. S-Rd,Ncmpa
    8. -
    9. Y-700
    10. 278133
    1. Oh Ləmūʼēl
    2. Lemuel
    3. 3731
    5. 398462
    6. S-Np
    8. -
    9. Person=Lemuel; Y-700
    10. 278135
    1. not
    2. -
    3. 515
    5. 398463
    6. P-Tn
    8. -
    9. Y-700
    10. 278136
    1. for kings
    2. -
    3. 3705,4308
    5. 398464,398465
    6. S-Rd,Ncmpa
    8. -
    9. Y-700
    10. 278137
    1. to drink
    2. drink
    3. 7902
    5. 398466
    6. V-Vqc
    8. -
    9. Y-700
    10. 278138
    1. wine
    2. wine
    3. 3140
    5. 398468
    6. O-Ncmsa
    8. -
    9. Y-700
    10. 278140
    1. and for rulers
    2. rulers
    3. 1987,3705,7272
    5. 398469,398470,398471
    6. S-C,R,Vqrmpa
    8. -
    9. Y-700
    10. 278141
    1. where
    2. -
    3. 498
    4. K
    5. 398472
    6. P-C
    8. -
    9. Y-700
    10. 278142
    1. strong drink
    2. strong
    3. 7626
    5. 398474
    6. S-Ncmsa
    8. -
    9. Y-700
    10. 278144

OET (OET-LV) Not is_for_kings Oh_Ləmūʼēl not for_kings to_drink wine and_for_rulers where[fn] strong_drink.

31:4 OSHB variant note: או: (x-qere) ’אֵ֣י’: lemma_335 morph_HTi id_20nHM אֵ֣י

OET (OET-RV) Lemuel, it’s not for kings to drink wine
 ⇔ or for rulers to crave strong drink,

Note: The OET-RV is still only a first draft, and so far only a few words have been (mostly automatically) matched to the Hebrew or Greek words that they’re translated from.

Acknowledgements: The Hebrew text, lemmas, and morphology are all thanks to the OSHB and some of the glosses are from Macula Hebrew.OET logo mark

◄ ← PROV 31:4 ↑ → ║ ≡ ©