Harlotry,wineand newwinetakeaway the understanding.
Wineis a mocker,strongdrinka brawler,And whoeveris intoxicatedby it is not wise.
It is not for kings,O Lemuel,It is not for kingsto drinkwine,Or for rulersto desirestrongdrink,
The one who commitsadulterywith a womanis lackingsense;He who would destroyhimselfdoesit.
For oppressionmakesa wisemanmad,And a bribecorruptsthe heart.
And thesealsoreelwith wineand staggerfrom strongdrink:The priestand the prophetreelwith strongdrink,They are confusedby wine,they staggerfrom strongdrink;They reelwhile having visions,They totter[when rendering] judgment.
Their banquetsare [accompanied] by lyreand harp,by tambourineand flute,and by wine;But they do not payattentionto the deedsof the LORD,Nordo they considerthe workof His hands.
"Moreover, among the prophetsof SamariaI sawan offensivething:They prophesiedby Baaland ledMy peopleIsraelastray.
My peopleconsulttheir woodenidol, and their [diviner's] wandinformsthem; For a spiritof harlotryhas led[them] astray,And they have playedthe harlot,[departing] from their God.
Their deedswill not allowthem To returnto their God.For a spiritof harlotryis withinthem, And they do not knowthe LORD.
So Ephraimhas becomelike a sillydove,withoutsense;They callto Egypt,they goto Assyria.
"Do not drinkwineor strongdrink,neither you noryour sonswith you, when you comeinto the tentof meeting,so that you will not die--it is a perpetualstatutethroughout your generations--
"Be on guard,sothat your heartswill not be weighted downwith dissipationand drunkennessand the worriesof life,and that daywill not comeon you suddenlylikea trap;
Then Abigailcameto Nabal,and behold,he was holding a feastin his house,like the feastof a king.And Nabal'sheartwas merrywithinhim, for he was verydrunk;so she did not tellhim anythingat alluntilthe morninglight.
