31:1 The words of King Lemuel, 1
an oracle 2 that his mother taught him:
31:2 O 3 my son, O son of my womb,
O son 4 of my vows,
31:3 Do not give your strength 5 to women,
nor your ways 6 to that which ruins 7 kings.
31:4 It is not for kings, 8 O Lemuel,
it is not for kings to drink wine, 9
or for rulers to crave strong drink, 10
31:5 lest they drink and forget what is decreed,
and remove 11 from all the poor 12 their legal rights. 13
31:6 Give strong drink to the one who is perishing, 14
and wine to those who are bitterly distressed; 15
31:7 let them 16 drink and forget 17 their poverty,
and remember their misery no more.
31:8 Open your mouth 18 on behalf of those unable to speak, 19
for the legal rights of all the dying. 20
31:9 Open your mouth, judge in righteousness, 21
and plead the cause 22 of the poor and needy.