¹⁷ Happy is the land whose ruler is of noble birth, and whose chiefs take food at the right time, for strength and not for feasting.

⁴ It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to take wine, or for rulers to say, Where is strong drink?

⁵ For fear that through drinking they may come to have no respect for the law, wrongly judging the cause of those who are in trouble.

²⁶ And with the money get whatever you have a desire for, oxen or sheep or wine or strong drink, whatever your soul's desire may be: and make a feast there before the Lord your God, and be glad, you and all your house;

² Because of the sin of the land, its troubles are increased; but by a man of wisdom and knowledge they will be put out like a fire.

³ A man of wealth who is cruel to the poor is like a violent rain causing destruction of food.

⁶ The foolish are placed in high positions, but men of wealth are kept low.

⁷ I have seen servants on horses, and rulers walking on the earth as servants.

¹¹ Cursed are those who get up early in the morning to give themselves up to strong drink; who keep on drinking far into the night till they are heated with wine!

²¹ And their chief will be of their number; their ruler will come from among themselves; and I will let him be present before me, so that he may come near to me: for who may have strength of heart to come near me? says the Lord.