Proverbs 31:4 It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine, or for rulers to crave strong drink,

◄ Proverbs 31:4 ►

New International Version
It is not for kings, Lemuel— it is not for kings to drink wine, not for rulers to crave beer,

New Living Translation
It is not for kings, O Lemuel, to guzzle wine. Rulers should not crave alcohol.

English Standard Version
It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine, or for rulers to take strong drink,

Berean Standard Bible
It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine, or for rulers to crave strong drink,

King James Bible
It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine; nor for princes strong drink:

New King James Version
It is not for kings, O Lemuel, It is not for kings to drink wine, Nor for princes intoxicating drink;

New American Standard Bible
It is not for kings, Lemuel, It is not for kings to drink wine, Or for rulers to desire intoxicating drink,

NASB 1995
It is not for kings, O Lemuel, It is not for kings to drink wine, Or for rulers to desire strong drink,

NASB 1977
It is not for kings, O Lemuel, It is not for kings to drink wine, Or for rulers to desire strong drink,

Legacy Standard Bible
It is not for kings, O Lemuel, It is not for kings to drink wine, Or for rulers to desire strong drink,

Amplified Bible
It is not for kings, O Lemuel, It is not for kings to drink wine, Or for rulers to desire strong drink,

Christian Standard Bible
It is not for kings, Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine or for rulers to desire beer.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
It is not for kings, Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine or for rulers to desire beer.

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?

Contemporary English Version
Kings and leaders should not get drunk or even want to drink.

English Revised 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?

GOD'S WORD® Translation
"It is not for kings, Lemuel. It is not for kings to drink wine or for rulers to crave liquor.

Good News Translation
Listen, Lemuel. Kings should not drink wine or have a craving for alcohol.

International Standard Version
It is not for kings, Lemuel— Not for kings to drink wine or for rulers to desire liquor.

Majority Standard Bible
It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine, or for rulers to crave 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,

Webster's Bible Translation
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?’

Literal Translations

Literal Standard Version
[It is] not for kings, O Lemuel, "" Not for kings, to drink wine, "" And for princes—a desire of strong drink.

Young's Literal Translation
Not for kings, O Lemuel, Not for kings, to drink wine, And for princes a desire of strong drink.

Smith's Literal Translation
Not for kings, O Lemuel, not for kings to drink and for princes the desire of strong drink:

Catholic Translations

Douay-Rheims Bible
Give not to kings, O Lamuel, give not wine to kings: because there is no secret where drunkenness reigneth:

Catholic Public Domain Version
Not to kings, O Lamuel, not to kings give wine. For there are no secrets where drunkenness reigns.

New American Bible
It is not for kings, Lemuel, not for kings to drink wine; strong drink is not for princes,

New Revised Standard Version
It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine, or for rulers to desire strong drink;

Translations from Aramaic

Lamsa Bible
Of kings, O Moael, be careful of kings who drink wine; and of princes who drink strong drink,

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
Beware of Kings, Moayl, of Kings that drink wine, and of Rulers that drink strong drink

OT Translations

JPS Tanakh 1917
It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine: Nor for princes to say: 'Where is strong drink?'

Brenton Septuagint Translation
Princes are prone to anger: let them then not drink wine:

Additional Translations ...

Audio Bible

Context

The Words of King Lemuel
…3Do not spend your strength on women or your vigor on those who ruin kings. 4It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine, or for rulers to crave strong drink, 5lest they drink and forget what is decreed, depriving all the oppressed of justice.…

Berean Standard Bible · Download

Cross References

Ephesians 5:18
Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to reckless indiscretion. Instead, be filled with the Spirit.

Isaiah 5:11-12
Woe to those who rise early in the morning in pursuit of strong drink, who linger into the evening, to be inflamed by wine. / At their feasts are the lyre and harp, tambourines and flutes and wine. They disregard the actions of the LORD and fail to see the work of His hands.

1 Timothy 3:3
not dependent on wine, not violent but gentle, peaceable, and free of the love of money.

Leviticus 10:9
“You and your sons are not to drink wine or strong drink when you enter the Tent of Meeting, or else you will die; this is a permanent statute for the generations to come.

Romans 13:13
Let us behave decently, as in the daytime, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and debauchery, not in dissension and jealousy.

1 Peter 4:3
For you have spent enough time in the past carrying out the same desires as the Gentiles: living in debauchery, lust, drunkenness, orgies, carousing, and detestable idolatry.

Habakkuk 2:15
Woe to him who gives drink to his neighbors, pouring it from the wineskin until they are drunk, in order to gaze at their nakedness!

1 Corinthians 6:10
nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor verbal abusers, nor swindlers, will inherit the kingdom of God.

Hosea 4:11
to promiscuity, wine, and new wine, which take away understanding.

Galatians 5:21
and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

Daniel 5:1-4
Later, King Belshazzar held a great feast for a thousand of his nobles, and he drank wine with them. / Under the influence of the wine, Belshazzar gave orders to bring in the gold and silver vessels that Nebuchadnezzar his father had taken from the temple in Jerusalem, so that the king could drink from them, along with his nobles, his wives, and his concubines. / Thus they brought in the gold vessels that had been taken from the temple, the house of God in Jerusalem, and the king drank from them, along with his nobles, his wives, and his concubines. ...

1 Thessalonians 5:7
For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, get drunk at night.

Isaiah 28:7
These also stagger from wine and stumble from strong drink: Priests and prophets reel from strong drink and are befuddled by wine. They stumble because of strong drink, muddled in their visions and stumbling in their judgments.

Luke 21:34
But watch yourselves, or your hearts will be weighed down by dissipation, drunkenness, and the worries of life—and that day will spring upon you suddenly like a snare.

Numbers 6:3
he is to abstain from wine and strong drink. He must not drink vinegar made from wine or strong drink, and he must not drink any grape juice or eat fresh grapes or raisins.

Treasury of Scripture

It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine; nor for princes strong drink:

Leviticus 10:9,10
Do not drink wine nor strong drink, thou, nor thy sons with thee, when ye go into the tabernacle of the congregation, lest ye die: it shall be a statute for ever throughout your generations: …

1 Kings 20:12,16-20
And it came to pass, when Benhadad heard this message, as he was drinking, he and the kings in the pavilions, that he said unto his servants, Set yourselves in array. And they set themselves in array against the city…

Esther 3:15
The posts went out, being hastened by the king's commandment, and the decree was given in Shushan the palace. And the king and Haman sat down to drink; but the city Shushan was perplexed.

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Proverbs 31

1. Lemuel's lesson of chastity and temperance
6. The afflicted are to be comforted and defended
10. The praise and properties of a good wife

Berean Study Bible

It is not for kings
The phrase emphasizes the high calling and responsibility of those in leadership. In Hebrew, the word for "kings" is "מְלָכִים" (melachim), which denotes those who have authority and governance over others. Historically, kings were seen as representatives of divine order on earth, and their actions were expected to reflect wisdom and justice. This phrase serves as a reminder that leaders are held to a higher standard and must exercise self-control and discernment.

O Lemuel
The name "Lemuel" is unique and appears only in this chapter of Proverbs. It is often interpreted as a symbolic or poetic name, possibly meaning "devoted to God" or "belonging to God." This personal address suggests a direct and intimate counsel, possibly from a mother to her son, highlighting the importance of wisdom and moral integrity in leadership.

it is not for kings to drink wine
The repetition of "it is not for kings" underscores the seriousness of the admonition. "Wine" in Hebrew is "יַיִן" (yayin), a common beverage in ancient times, often associated with celebration and relaxation. However, for kings, the consumption of wine is cautioned against due to its potential to impair judgment. The historical context reveals that leaders were expected to maintain clarity of mind to govern justly and make sound decisions.

nor for rulers to crave strong drink
The term "rulers" expands the admonition to all those in positions of authority, not just kings. "Strong drink" in Hebrew is "שֵׁכָר" (shekar), referring to fermented beverages with higher alcohol content. The word "crave" suggests a deeper issue of desire and lack of self-control. In a scriptural context, leaders are called to exhibit temperance and avoid indulgences that could lead to moral and ethical compromise.

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(4) It is not for kings to drink wine.--Another of the temptations of kings. (Comp. 1Kings 16:9; 1Kings 20:16; Ecclesiastes 10:17.) Perversion of justice as the result of revelry is also noted by Isaiah (Isaiah 5:22-23). Comp. St. Paul's advice to "use this world so as not abusing," or rather "using it to the full" (1Corinthians 7:31)

Pulpit Commentary

Verses 4-7. - The second admonition. A warning against inebriety, and concerning a proper use of strong drink. Verse 4. - It is not for kings; or, as others read, far be it from kings. The injunction is repeated to indicate its vast importance. Nor for princes strong drink; literally, nor for princes (the word), Where is strong drink? (see on Proverbs 20:1; and comp. Job 15:23). The evils of intemperance, flagrant enough in the case of a private person, are greatly enhanced in the case of a king, whose misdeeds may affect a whole community, as the next verse intimates. St. Jerome reads differently, translating, "Because there is no secret where drunkenness reigns." This is in accordance with the proverb, "When wine goes in the secret comes out;" and, "Where drink enters, wisdom departs;" and again, "Quod latet in mente sobrii, hoc natat in ore ebrii." Septuagint, "The powerful are irascible, but let them not drink wine." "Drunkenness," says Jeremy Taylor ('Holy Living,' ch. 3, § 2), "opens all the sanctuaries of nature, and discovers the nakedness of the soul, all its weaknesses and follies; it multiplies sins and discovers them; it makes a man incapable of being a private friend or a public counsellor. It taketh a man's soul into slavery and imprisonment more than any vice whatsoever, because it disarms a man of all his reason and his wisdom, whereby he might be cured, and, therefore, commonly it grows upon him with age; a drunkard being still more a fool and less a man."

Parallel Commentaries ...

Hebrew

It is not
אַ֤ל (’al)
Adverb
Strong's 408: Not

for kings,
לַֽמְלָכִ֨ים ׀ (lam·lā·ḵîm)
Preposition-l, Article | Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 4428: A king

O Lemuel,
לְֽמוֹאֵ֗ל (lə·mō·w·’êl)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3927: Lemuel -- king of Massa

it is not
אַ֣ל (’al)
Adverb
Strong's 408: Not

for kings
לַֽמְלָכִ֣ים (lam·lā·ḵîm)
Preposition-l, Article | Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 4428: A king

to drink
שְׁתוֹ־ (šə·ṯōw-)
Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct
Strong's 8354: To imbibe

wine,
יָ֑יִן (yā·yin)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 3196: Wine, intoxication

or for rulers
וּ֝לְרוֹזְנִ֗ים (ū·lə·rō·wz·nîm)
Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural
Strong's 7336: To be weighty, judicious or commanding

[to crave]
אֵ֣י (’ê)
Interrogative
Strong's 176: Desire, if

strong drink,
שֵׁכָֽר׃ (šê·ḵār)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 7941: An intoxicant, intensely alcoholic liquor

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OT Poetry: Proverbs 31:4 It is not for kings Lemuel (Prov. Pro Pr)