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Do not give your strength to women,
    your ways to those who destroy kings.
It is not for kings, O Lemuel,
    it is not for kings to drink wine,
    or for rulers to desire[a] strong drink;
or else they will drink and forget what has been decreed,
    and will pervert the rights of all the afflicted.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 31:4 Cn: Heb where

Do not spend your strength[a] on women,
    your vigor on those who ruin kings.(A)

It is not for kings, Lemuel—
    it is not for kings to drink wine,(B)
    not for rulers to crave beer,
lest they drink(C) and forget what has been decreed,(D)
    and deprive all the oppressed of their rights.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 31:3 Or wealth