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It is not for (A)kings, O Lemuel,
It is not for kings to (B)drink wine,
Or for rulers to desire strong drink,
Lest he drink and forget what is decreed,
And (C)pervert the justice of all the [a]afflicted.
Give strong drink to him who is (D)perishing,
And wine to those (E)whose soul is bitter.
Let him drink and forget his poverty
And he will not remember his trouble any longer.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 31:5 Lit sons of affliction

It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine;
Nor for princes [a]to say, Where is strong drink?
Lest they drink, and forget [b]the law,
And pervert the justice due to [c]any that is afflicted.
Give strong drink unto him that is ready to perish,
And wine unto the bitter in soul:
Let him drink, and forget his poverty,
And remember his misery no more.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 31:4 Another reading is, to desire strong drink.
  2. Proverbs 31:5 Hebrew that which is decreed.
  3. Proverbs 31:5 Hebrew all the sons of affliction.