1. The words of King Lemuel, an oracle that his mother taught him:
2. O my son, O son of my womb, O son of my vows,
3. do not give your vigor to women, or your ways to what ruins kings.
4. It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine, or for rulers to crave strong drink,
5. lest they drink, forget what is decreed, and pervert justice for all the oppressed.