¹⁷ Happy art thou, O land, when thy king is the son of nobles, and thy princes eat in due season, for strength, and not for drunkenness!

⁴ It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine; Nor for princes `to say', Where is strong drink?

⁵ Lest they drink, and forget the law, And pervert the justice `due' to any that is afflicted.

²⁶ and thou shalt bestow the money for whatsoever thy soul desireth, for oxen, or for sheep, or for wine, or for strong drink, or for whatsoever thy soul asketh of thee; and thou shalt eat there before Jehovah thy God, and thou shalt rejoice, thou and thy household.

² For the transgression of a land many are the princes thereof; But by men of understanding `and' knowledge the state `thereof' shall be prolonged.

³ A needy man that oppresseth the poor Is `like' a sweeping rain which leaveth no food.

⁶ folly is set in great dignity, and the rich sit in a low place.

⁷ I have seen servants upon horses, and princes walking like servants upon the earth.

¹¹ Woe unto them that rise up early in the morning, that they may follow strong drink; that tarry late into the night, till wine inflame them!

²¹ And their prince shall be of themselves, and their ruler shall proceed from the midst of them; and I will cause him to draw near, and he shall approach unto me: for who is he that hath had boldness to approach unto me? saith Jehovah.