Proverbs 31:5
3 Do not spend your strength on women or your vigor on those who ruin kings.
4 It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine, or for rulers to crave strong drink,
lest they drink and forget what is decreed, depriving all the oppressed of justice.
6 Give strong drink to one who is perishing, and wine to the bitter in soul.
7 Let him drink and forget his poverty, and remember his misery no more.
This was said to Israel at a particular time, so it is wise to read it together with the surrounding text. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.
Compare
- BSB
- lest they drink and forget what is decreed, depriving all the oppressed of justice.
- KJV
- Lest they drink, and forget the law, and pervert the judgment of any of the afflicted.
- WEB
- lest they drink, and forget the law, and pervert the justice due to anyone who is afflicted.
- ASV
- Lest they drink, and forget the law, And pervert the justice [due] to any that is afflicted.
- DARBY
- lest they drink and forget the law, and pervert the judgment of any of the children of affliction.
- BLB
- lest they drink and forget the decree, and pervert the judgment of any of the sons of affliction.
- ÅB
- for at de ikke skal drikke og glemme hva der er lov, og forvende retten for alle arminger.
- OTB
- for at de ikke skal drikke og glemme hva som er bestemt, og forvrenge retten for alle de undertrykte.
- B1930
- forat de ikke skal drikke og glemme hvad der er lov, og forvende retten for alle arminger.
Study notes (Tyndale)
Original text and word study
Cross references
Habakkuk 2:5
and wealth indeed betrays him. He is an arrogant man never at rest. He enlarges his appetite like Sheol, and like Death, he is never satisfied. He gathers all the nations to himself and collects all the peoples as his own.
Read in context