1The words of Lemuel, king of Massa: the teaching which he had from his mother.
2What am I to say to you, O Lemuel, my oldest son? and what, O son of my body? and what, O son of my oaths?
3Do not give your strength to women, or your ways to that which is the destruction of kings.
4It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to take wine, or for rulers to say, Where is strong drink?
5For fear that through drinking they may come to have no respect for the law, wrongly judging the cause of those who are in trouble.
6Give strong drink to him who is near to destruction, and wine to him whose soul is bitter: