Proverbs 31:5

5 Otherwise, they^[a] will drink, forget what is decreed, and pervert justice for all the oppressed.^{[b] [c]}

Proverbs 31:5 Meaning and Commentary

Proverbs 31:5

Lest they drink, and forget the law
The law of God by Moses, which the kings of Israel were obliged to write a copy of, and read over daily, to imprint it on their minds, that they might never forget it, but always govern according to it, ( Deuteronomy 17:18 Deuteronomy 17:19 ) ; or the law of their ancestors, or what was made by themselves, which through intemperance may be forgotten; for this sin stupefies the mind and hurts the memory, and makes men forgetful; and pervert the judgment of any of the afflicted;
a king on the throne, or a judge on the bench, drunk, must be very unfit for his office; since he must be incapable of attending to the cause before him, of taking in the true state of the case; and, as he forgets the law, which is his rule of judgment, so he will mistake the point in debate, and put one thing for another; and "change" ^F7 and alter, as the word signifies, the judgment of the afflicted and injured person, and give the cause against him which should be for him; and therefore it is of great consequence that kings and judges should he sober. A certain woman, being undeservedly condemned by Philip king of Macedon, when drunk, said,

``I would appeal to Philip, but it shall be when he is sober;''

which aroused him; and, more diligently examining the cause, he gave, a more righteous sentence ^F8.

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FOOTNOTES:

F7 (hnvy) "mutet", Pagninus, Montanus, Junius & Tremellius, Piscator, Mercerus, Cocceius, Gejerus, Michaelis; "demutet", Schultens.
F8 Valer. Maxim l. 6. c. 2. extern. 1.

Proverbs 31:5 In-Context

3 Don't spend your energy on women or your efforts on those who destroy kings.

4 It is not for kings, Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine or for rulers [to desire] beer.

5 Otherwise, they will drink, forget what is decreed, and pervert justice for all the oppressed.

6 Give beer to one who is dying, and wine to one whose life is bitter.

7 Let him drink so that he can forget his poverty and remember his trouble no more.

Footnotes

• [a] Lit he
• [b] Lit sons of affliction
• [c] Ps 72:1-2; Isa 28:7