Proverbs 31:1-9

Darby Translation

31 The words of king Lemuel, the prophecy that his mother taught him:

² What, my son? and what, O son of my womb? and what, O son of my vows?

³ Give not thy strength unto women, nor thy ways to them that destroy kings.

⁴ It is not for kings, Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine, nor for rulers [to say], Where is the strong drink?

⁵ —lest they drink and forget the law, and pervert the judgment of any of the children of affliction.

⁶ Give strong drink unto him that is ready to perish, and wine unto the bitter of soul:

⁷ let him drink, and forget his poverty, and remember his misery no more.

⁸ Open thy mouth for the dumb, for the cause of all those that are left desolate.

⁹ Open thy mouth, judge righteously, and minister justice to the afflicted and needy.