Proverbs 31:4 - Printer Friendly

ESV: It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine, or for rulers to take strong drink,

NIV: It is not for kings, Lemuel— it is not for kings to drink wine, not for rulers to crave beer,

NASB: It is not for kings, Lemuel, It is not for kings to drink wine, Or for rulers to desire intoxicating drink,

CSB: It is not for kings, Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine or for rulers to desire beer.

NLT: It is not for kings, O Lemuel, to guzzle wine. Rulers should not crave alcohol.

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

NKJV: It is not for kings, O Lemuel, It is not for kings to drink wine, Nor for princes intoxicating drink;

The prior lesson warned about letting a weakness for sex "destroy" a king (Proverbs 31:3). This is part of the wisdom passed down to a king named Lemuel, from his mother (Proverbs 31:1–2). Both teachings share a common theme of losing control. Scripture offers advice that those in leadership be extremely cautious about intoxicating substances, if not abstain from them completely. Such things can lead to poor decisions and failure in that role (Proverbs 31:5).

All things given by God are good when used in their intended purpose (1 Timothy 4:4). Scripture warns about lust, but not all sexuality is wrong. In a similar way, the Bible never prohibits all consumption of alcohol. Yet it explicitly condemns excess: drunkenness (Ephesians 5:18). Scripture contains cautionary tales about the humiliating, life-ruining effects which can come from that vice (Genesis 9:20–23; 19:30–38). Lust was said to "destroy kings," and alcohol can do the same, as in the case of Elah (1 Kings 16:8–10). He was caught off guard and killed by a rival when intoxicated. Ben-hadad made a similar mistake during a war (1 Kings 20:16–21). Belshazzar (Daniel 5:2–5) and Ahasuerus (Esther 1:10–12; 2:1) seem to have made unwise choices under the influence of alcohol.

Proverbs 31:1–9 contains several teachings echoed previously in this book. The wisdom is related by King Lemuel, as told to him by his mother. This is not the first time a mother's teaching has been mentioned (Proverbs 1:8; 6:20; 30:17). The counsel is a good setup for the rest of the chapter, which is an acrostic poem celebrating the virtues of a wise, industrious, godly wife and mother.

This final chapter fits well with the rest of the book of Proverbs. It reiterates subjects found elsewhere in these lessons. Of note is that the entire chapter is connected to godly women. Topics include the importance of godly parenting, morality, righteous treatment of the needy, justice, and diligence. The first section are the words of King Lemuel's mother. The last is the famous depiction of an "excellent wife," exhibiting ideal traits of diligence, godliness, and competence. That description is arranged as acrostic poem: each verse begins with a consecutive letter of the Hebrew alphabet.

Proverbs chapter 31 comes after a long list of Solomon's teachings (Proverbs 25—29) and the words of Agur (Proverbs 30). This final section is connected to two women: the mother of King Lemuel and the ideal of a godly, "excellent" wife. Themes found in this passage are reflected in other lessons from the book of Proverbs. Of note, commendable traits such as business savvy, strength, and wisdom are explicitly associated with women, despite being stereotypically considered masculine. The content after verse 10 is explicitly structured as a poem.

Proverbs is best understood in context with the books of Ecclesiastes and Job. In Proverbs, “wisdom” is given in short, simple, general terms. Ecclesiastes represents wisdom based on observation and experience. This often shows how the general principles of the book of Proverbs don’t apply in absolutely every circumstance. Job represents wisdom based on the experience of suffering and injustice. All three come to the conclusion that God does indeed know best, and the most sensible course of action is to follow His will.