PROV 31:4 Parallel Verse View

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Text critical issues=small word differences Clarity of original=clear Importance to us=normal (All still tentative.)

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

Key: khaki:verbs.
Note: Automatic aligning of the OET-RV to the LV is done by some temporary software, hence the OET-RV alignments are incomplete (and may occasionally be wrong).

ULT It is not for kings, Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine
⇔ or for dignitaries or intoxicating drink.

UST Lemuel, kings and dignitaries should not constantly drink wine,
⇔ or greatly desire to drink what can intoxicate them.”

OEB No OEB PROV book available

WEBBE It is not for kings, Lemuel,
⇔ it is not for kings to drink wine,
⇔ nor for princes to say, ‘Where is strong drink?’

WMBB (Same as above)

NET It is not for kings, O Lemuel,
⇔ it is not for kings to drink wine,
⇔ or for rulers to crave strong drink,

LSV [It is] not for kings, O Lemuel,
Not for kings, to drink wine,
And for princes—a desire of strong drink.

FBV Lemuel, kings shouldn't be drinking wine, rulers shouldn't be drinking alcohol.[fn]

31:4 “Alcohol”: literally, “strong drink.”

T4T ⇔ Lemuel, kings should not be constantly drinking wine
⇔ or greatly desire to drink other strong/alcoholic drinks.

LEB • It is not for the kings, O Lemuel; drinking wine is not for the kings,
• nor is strong drink for rulers.

BBE It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to take wine, or for rulers to say, Where is strong drink?

Moff It is not for kings to be quaffing wine,
⇔ nor for princes to be swilling liquor;

JPS It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine: nor for princes to say: 'Where is strong drink?'

ASV It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine;
⇔ Nor for princes to say, Where is strong drink?

DRA Give not to kings, O Lamuel, give not wine to kings: because there is no secret where drunkenness reigneth:

YLT Not for kings, O Lemuel, Not for kings, to drink wine, And for princes a desire of strong drink.

Drby It is not for kings, Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine, nor for rulers [to say], Where is the strong drink?

RV It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine; nor for princes to say, Where is strong drink?
(It is not for kings, Oh Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine; nor for princes to say, Where is strong drink? )

SLT Not for kings, O Lemuel, not for kings to drink and for princes the desire of strong drink:

Wbstr It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine; nor for princes strong drink:

KJB-1769 It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine; nor for princes strong drink:
(It is not for kings, Oh Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine; nor for princes strong drink: )

KJB-1611 It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drinke wine, nor for Princes, strong drinke:
(It is not for kings, Oh Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine, nor for Princes, strong drinke:)

Bshps O Lamuel, it is not for kynges, it is not I say for kynges to drynke wine, nor princes strong drynke.
(Oh Lamuel, it is not for kings, it is not I say for kings to drink wine, nor princes strong drink.)

Gnva It is not for Kings, O Lemuel, it is not for Kings to drink wine nor for princes strog drinke,
(It is not for Kings, Oh Lemuel, it is not for Kings to drink wine nor for princes strong drink, )

Cvdl O Lamuel, geue kinges no wyne, geue kynges & prynces no stronge drynke:
(Oh Lamuel, give kings no wine, give kings and princes no strong drink:)

Wycl A! Lamuel, nyle thou yiue wyn to kingis; for no pryuete is, where drunkenesse regneth.
(A! Lamuel, won’t thou/you give wine to kings; for no pryuete is, where drunkenness regneth.)

Luth O, nicht den Königen, Lamuel, gib den Königen nicht Wein zu trinken noch den Fürsten stark Getränke.
(O, not the kings, Lamuel, give the kings not wine to/for drink(v) still the prince(s)/ruler(s) stark drinks(n).)

ClVg Noli regibus, o Lamuel, noli regibus dare vinum, quia nullum secretum est ubi regnat ebrietas;[fn]
(Don't kings, o Lamuel, don't kings dare wine, because none secretum it_is where kingdomst ebrietas; )

31.4 Noli regibus. Hæc et sequentia ad litteram patent, etc., usque ad carnales scrutantur.

31.4 Don't kings. This and following to literally patent, etc., until to carnal scrutantur.

SOTN 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,

¶ My son Lemuel, what is not right for kings to do? It is not right when kings drink too much wine.
¶ Listen carefully to this advice, Lemuel, my son. Kings should not drink too much 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)

¶ Lemuel, I want you^(sing) to know that kings and others who govern/rule should not habitually drink wine or beer.
¶ Listen, Lemuel, a king or other leader/ruler must be careful not to crave any beverage that will make him drunk.

31:4b

or for rulers to crave strong drink,

It is also wrong when leaders/rulers crave beer.
Those who govern/rule the country should not desire any intoxicating drinks.

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)

UTN uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / doublet

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 express the emphasis with a single phrase. 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.