Proverbs

The sayings of King Lemuel--an oracle his mother taught him:

"O my son, O son of my womb, O son of my vows,

do not spend your strength on women, your vigor on those who ruin kings.

"It is not for kings, O Lemuel--not for kings to drink wine, not for rulers to crave beer,

lest they drink and forget what the law decrees, and deprive all the oppressed of their rights.

Give beer to those who are perishing, wine to those who are in anguish;

let them drink and forget their poverty and remember their misery no more.

"Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute.