2  What are you doing, my son?¹ What are you doing, ^fson of my womb?

What are you doing, ^gson of my vows?

3  Do ^hnot give your strength to women,

your ways to those ⁱwho destroy kings.

4  ^jIt is not for kings, O Lemuel,

it is not for kings ^kto drink wine,

or for rulers to take ^lstrong drink,

5  lest they drink and forget what has been decreed

and ^mpervert the rights of all the afflicted.

6  Give strong drink to the one who ⁿis perishing,

and wine to ^othose in bitter distress;²

7  ^plet them drink and forget their poverty

and remember their misery no more.

8  ^qOpen your mouth for the mute,

for the rights of all who are destitute.³

9  Open your mouth, ^rjudge righteously,

^sdefend the rights of ^tthe poor and needy.