¹⁷ Blessed is the land whose king is of noble birth
    and whose princes eat at a proper time—
    for strength and not for drunkenness.^(A)

⁴ It is not for kings, Lemuel—
    it is not for kings to drink wine,^(A)
    not for rulers to crave beer,
⁵ lest they drink^(B) and forget what has been decreed,^(C)
    and deprive all the oppressed of their rights.

²¹ Their leader^(A) will be one of their own;
    their ruler will arise from among them.^(B)
I will bring him near^(C) and he will come close to me—
    for who is he who will devote himself
    to be close to me?’
declares the Lord.

¹¹ Woe^(A) to those who rise early in the morning
    to run after their drinks,
who stay up late at night
    till they are inflamed with wine.^(B)

⁶ Fools are put in many high positions,^(A)
    while the rich occupy the low ones.
⁷ I have seen slaves on horseback,
    while princes go on foot like slaves.^(B)

² When a country is rebellious, it has many rulers,
    but a ruler with discernment and knowledge maintains order.

³ A ruler^[a] who oppresses the poor
    is like a driving rain that leaves no crops.