31:5

This verse gives the reason for the warning not to drink in 31:4. The underlined parallel parts describe what will happen if kings do not heed this warning. The part in 31:5b gives a specific example of the part in 31:5a.

5a lest they drink and forget what is decreed,

5b
depriving all the oppressed of justice.

31:5a

lest they drink: The word lest introduces the bad consequences of ignoring the warning. Some other ways to introduce these consequences are:

For if they drink (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
or else they will drink (New Revised Standard Version)
-or-
When they drink (Good News Translation)

and forget what is decreed: The phrase what is decreed refers to the laws of the country, not to the law of Moses.

they forget what they have decreed (New Jerusalem Bible)
-or-
they may forget their duties (New Living Translation (1996))

31:5b

depriving all the oppressed of justice: The purpose of the civil laws was to ensure all people could have justice, especially the oppressed. The king was responsible to uphold these laws and to ensure that poor people were treated fairly.

depriving: The Hebrew word that the Berean Standard Bible translates here as depriving is literally “change.” In this verse, the word refers to a change that hurts oppressed people. For example:

and change the standard of justice for all oppressed people (God’s Word)

A drunken king could not think clearly about the laws. He either ignored them or incorrectly interpreted their meaning. The result was that the “oppressed” were prevented from getting “justice.”

oppressed: The Hebrew word that the Berean Standard Bible translates here as oppressed refers to people who are poor. It emphasizes that they suffer some kind of distress or disability. Because such people have low status in society, their lives are difficult. Others often oppress them. Some other ways to translate this word are:

all the poor (New Jerusalem Bible)
-or-
people in need (Good News Translation)

Some other ways to translate this line are:

and violate the rights of all who are in need (New American Bible)
-or-
and alter the ⌊course of⌋ justice for all the ⌊poor and⌋ afflicted (The Voice)
-or-
and keep the needy from getting their rights (New Century Version)

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