1 These are the words of King Lemuel—the burden that his mother taught him:
2 What shall I say, O my son? What, O son of my womb? What, O son of my vows?
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,
5 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.
8 Open your mouth for those with no voice, for the cause of all the dispossessed.
9 Open your mouth, judge righteously, and defend the cause of the poor and needy.