Christian Standard Bible
Proverbs 31:4
4It is not for kings, Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine or for rulers to desire beer.
Proverbs 31:4 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine; nor for princes strong drink:
- New International Version (NIV)It is not for kings, Lemuel— it is not for kings to drink wine, not for rulers to crave beer,
- English Standard Version (ESV)It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine, or for rulers to take strong drink,
- New King James Version (NKJV)It is not for kings, O Lemuel, It is not for kings to drink wine, Nor for princes intoxicating drink;
Context of Proverbs 31:4
2What should I say, my son? What, son of my womb? What, son of my vows? 3Don’t spend your energy on women or your efforts on those who destroy kings. It is not for kings, Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine or for rulers to desire beer. 5Otherwise, he will drink, forget what is decreed, and pervert justice for all the oppressed. 6Give beer to one who is dying and wine to one whose life is bitter.
Read all of Proverbs 31Proverbs 31:4 word by word
אַ֤ל לַֽמְלָכִ֨ים׀ לְֽמוֹאֵ֗ל אַ֣ל לַֽמְלָכִ֣ים שְׁתוֹ־יָ֑יִן וּ֝לְרוֹזְנִ֗ים אֵ֣י שֵׁכָֽר׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for Proverbs 31:4
- Leviticus 10:9“You and your sons are not to drink wine or beer when you enter the tent of meeting, or else you will die; this is a permanent statute throughout your generations.
- 1 Kings 20:12When Ben-hadad heard this response, while he and the kings were drinking in their quarters, he said to his servants, “Take your positions.” So they took their positions against the city.
- Esther 3:15The couriers left, spurred on by royal command, and the law was issued in the fortress of Susa. The king and Haman sat down to drink, while the city of Susa was in confusion.
- Ecclesiastes 10:17Blessed are you, land, when your king is a son of nobles and your princes feast at the proper time — for strength and not for drunkenness.
- Isaiah 28:7Even these stagger because of wine and stumble under the influence of beer: Priest and prophet stagger because of beer. They are confused by wine. They stumble because of beer. They are muddled in their visions. They stumble in their judgments.
- Daniel 5:2Under the influence of the wine, Belshazzar gave orders to bring in the gold and silver vessels that his predecessor Nebuchadnezzar had taken from the temple in Jerusalem, so that the king and his nobles, wives, and concubines could drink from them.
- Hosea 4:11Promiscuity, wine, and new wine take away one’s understanding.
- Hosea 7:3They please the king with their evil, the princes with their lies.
- Habakkuk 2:5Moreover, wine betrays; an arrogant man is never at rest. He enlarges his appetite like Sheol, and like Death he is never satisfied. He gathers all the nations to himself; he collects all the peoples for himself.
- Mark 6:21An opportune time came on his birthday, when Herod gave a banquet for his nobles, military commanders, and the leading men of Galilee.
Commentaries on Proverbs 31:4
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 4It is not for kings - to drink wine - An intemperate man is ill fit to hold the reins of government.Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 4Some read: “nor for princes to say, Where is strong drink?” The “strong drink” Proverbs 20:1 was distilled from barley, or honey, or dates.Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 4-7Drinking too much wine dulls the senses. A king needs to stay alert and should not drink too much alcohol.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 3-93-9. Succinct but solemn warnings against vices to which kings are peculiarly tempted, as carnal pleasures and oppressive and unrighteous government are used to sustain sensual indulgence. strength--mental and bodily resources for health and comfort. thy ways--or course of life. to that ... kings--literally, "to the destroying of kings," avoid destructive pleasures (compare Pr 5:9; 7:22, 27; Ho 4:11).Read the comment
Topics related to Proverbs 31:4
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Proverbs 31
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Rashi on Tanakh
- Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
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