“et ne forte bibant, et obliviscantur judiciorum, et mutent causam filiorum pauperis.”
“Lest they drink, and forget the law, and pervert the judgment of any of the afflicted . prevert: Heb. alter of any: Heb. of all the sons of affliction”
“lest they drink and forget what is decreed, depriving all the oppressed of justice.”
“lest they drink, and forget the law, and pervert the justice due to anyone who is afflicted.”
“Lest they drink, and forget the law, And pervert the justice due to any that is afflicted.”
Poor. Solon condemned to death, at Athens, the prince who should get drunk; and the Areopagites excluded from their assembly a judge who had dined in a tavern. (Laert. 1.; Athen. xiii. 2.)
Verses 1-9 When children are under the mother's eye, she has an opportunity of fashioning their minds aright. Those who are grown up, should often call to mind the good teaching they received when children. The many awful instances of promising characters who have been ruined by vile women, and love of wine, should warn every one to avoid these evils. Wine is to be used for want or medicine. Every creature of God is good, and wine, though abused, has its use. By the same rule, due praise and consolation should be used as cordials to the dejected and tempted, not administered to the confident and self-sufficient. All in authority should be more carefully temperate even than other men; and should be protectors of those who are unable or afraid to plead their own cause. Our blessed Lord did not decline the bitterest dregs of the cup of sorrow put into his hands; but he puts the cup of consolation into the hands of his people, and causes those to rejoice who are in the deepest distress.