Parallel Verses
Modern Spelling Tyndale-Coverdale
O Lemuel, give kings no wine, give kings and princes no strong drink;
New American Standard Bible
It is not for kings to
Or for rulers to desire strong drink,
King James Version
It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine; nor for princes strong drink:
Holman Bible
it is not for kings
or for rulers to desire beer.
International Standard Version
It is not for kings, Lemuel Not for kings to drink wine or for rulers to desire liquor.
A Conservative Version
It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine, nor for rulers [to say], Where is strong drink?
American Standard Version
It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine; Nor for princes to say , Where is strong drink?
Amplified
It is not for kings, O Lemuel,
It is not for kings to drink wine,
Or for rulers to desire strong drink,
Bible in Basic English
It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to take wine, or for rulers to say, Where is strong drink?
Darby Translation
It is not for kings, Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine, nor for rulers to say, Where is the strong drink?
Julia Smith Translation
Not for kings, O Lemuel, not for kings to drink and for princes the desire of strong drink:
King James 2000
It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine; nor for princes strong drink:
Lexham Expanded Bible
[It is] not for the kings, O Lemuel; drinking wine [is] not for the kings, nor [is] strong drink for rulers.
Modern King James verseion
It is not for kings, O Lemuel, not for kings to drink wine; nor for princes to lust for strong drink;
NET Bible
It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine, or for rulers to crave strong drink,
New Heart English Bible
It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine, or for princes to take strong drink,
The Emphasized Bible
It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine, nor, for dignitaries, to desire strong drink,
Webster
It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine; nor for princes strong drink:
World English Bible
It is not for kings, Lemuel; it is not for kings to drink wine; nor for princes to say, 'Where is strong drink?'
Youngs Literal Translation
Not for kings, O Lemuel, Not for kings, to drink wine, And for princes a desire of strong drink.
Themes
Abstinence » Total abstinence » Strong Drink » Rule for kings
Total abstinence » From intoxicating beverages
Drunkenness » Who should not drink
Government » The kings of the earth
King » Drunkenness of, forbidden
Kings » Specially warned against » Intemperance
Lemuel » Probably refers to solomon
Magistrates » Wisdom and integrity essential to
Rulers' » Wisdom and integrity essential to
Sobriety » Who should be sober
Social duties » Total abstinence from strong drink » Rule for kings
Temperance » Total abstinence » Rule for kings
The Nation » Of israel and judah rulers » Wisdom and integrity essential to
Topics
Interlinear
References
Word Count of 20 Translations in Proverbs 31:4
Verse Info
Context Readings
The Oracle Of King Lemuel
3 give not over thy substance and mind unto women, which are the destruction even of kings. 4 O Lemuel, give kings no wine, give kings and princes no strong drink; 5 Lest they being drunken forget the law, and regard not the cause of the poor, and of all such as be in adversity.
Phrases
Cross References
Ecclesiastes 10:17
But well is thee, O thou realm and land, whose king is come of nobles, and whose princes eat in due season, for strength and not for lust.
Proverbs 20:1
Wine is a voluptuous thing, and drunkenness causes sedition; whoso delighteth therein, shall never be wise.
Isaiah 5:22
Woe be unto them that are cunning men to sup out wine and expert to set up drunkenness.
Leviticus 10:9-10
"Drink no wine nor strong drink - neither thou nor thy sons with thee - when ye go into the tabernacle of witness, lest ye die. And let it be a law forever unto your children after you:
1 Kings 20:12
And when Benhadad heard that tidings, as he and the kings were drinking in the pavilions, he said unto his servants, "Put ye in array." And they put themselves in array against the city.
1 Kings 20:16-20
And they went out at noon when Benhadad was a drinking strong drink in the pavilions with the thirty two kings that holp him.
Esther 3:15
And the posts went in all the haste according to the king's commandment. And in the castle of Susa was the commandment devised. And the king and Haman sat and drank. But the city Susa was disquieted.
Isaiah 28:7-8
But they go wrong by the reason of wine, they fall and stagger because of strong drink. Yea even the priests and prophets themselves go amiss, they are drunken with wine, and weak brained through strong drink. They fail in prophesying, and stumble in judgment.
Daniel 5:2-4
and when he was drunken with wine, he commanded to bring him the golden and silver vessels, which his father Nebuchadnezzar had taken out of the temple at Jerusalem: that the king and his lords with his queen and concubines might drink thereout.
Hosea 4:11-12
Whoredom, wine and drunkenness take the heart away.
Hosea 7:3-5
They make the king and the princes, to have pleasure in their wickedness and lies.
Habakkuk 2:5
Like as the wine deceiveth the drunkard, even so the proud shall fail and not endure. He openeth his desire wide up as the hell, and is as insatiable as death. All Heathen gathereth he to him, and heapeth unto him all people."
Mark 6:21-28
But when a convenient day was come: Herod on his birthday made a supper to the Lords, captains, and chief estates of Galilee.