KJV ORIGINAL
Lest they drink, and forget the law, and pervert the judgment of any of the afflicted.
Close to the original. Clear modern English.
✦ MADE SIMPLE
Otherwise they might drink and forget God's law, and make unfair decisions that hurt those who are suffering.
⚡ THE BOTTOM LINE
This verse warns that drinking can cloud judgment and lead to unfair treatment of vulnerable people who need justice.
📚 Historical Context
This verse comes from the advice given by King Lemuel's mother about how rulers should behave. In ancient times, kings and judges held absolute power over legal decisions, and their judgment could mean life or death for their people. The 'afflicted' refers to the poor, widows, orphans, and foreigners who had little power to defend themselves and depended entirely on fair rulers for justice.
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