1. The words of king Lemuel, the prophecy that his mother taught him:
2. What, my son? and what, O son of my womb? and what, O son of my vows?
3. Give not thy strength unto women, nor thy ways to them that destroy kings.
4. It is not for kings, Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine, nor for rulers to say, Where is the strong drink?
5. --lest they drink and forget the law, and pervert the judgment of any of the children of affliction.
6. Give strong drink unto him that is ready to perish, and wine unto the bitter of soul:
7. let him drink, and forget his poverty, and remember his misery no more.
8. Open thy mouth for the dumb, for the cause of all those that are left desolate.
9. Open thy mouth, judge righteously, and minister justice to the afflicted and needy.