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Do not give your vigor to women,
    or your strength[a] to those who ruin kings.
It is not for kings, Lemuel,
    not for kings to drink wine;
    strong drink is not for princes,
Lest in drinking they forget what has been decreed,
    and violate the rights of any who are in need.

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Footnotes

  1. 31:3 The Hebrew word here translated “strength” normally means “ways,” but the context and a cognate language support “authority” or “strength” here.

Do not spend your strength[a] on women,
    your vigor on those who ruin kings.(A)

It is not for kings, Lemuel—
    it is not for kings to drink wine,(B)
    not for rulers to crave beer,
lest they drink(C) and forget what has been decreed,(D)
    and deprive all the oppressed of their rights.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 31:3 Or wealth