Proverbs 31:6-7

31:6 Give strong drink to the one who is perishing, ¹ 

and wine to those who are bitterly distressed; ² 

31:7 let them ³  drink and forget ⁴  their poverty,

and remember their misery no more.

[31:6]  ¹ sn Wine and beer should be given to those distressed and dying in order to ease their suffering and help them forget.

[31:6]  ² tn Heb “to the bitter of soul.” The phrase לְמָרֵי נָפֶשׁ (lÿmare nafesh) has been translated “of heavy hearts” (KJV); “in anguish” (NIV); “in misery” (TEV); “in bitter distress” (NRSV); “sorely depressed” (NAB); “in deep depression (NLT); “have lost all hope” (CEV). The word “bitter” (מַר, mar) describes the physical and mental/spiritual suffering as a result of affliction, grief, or suffering – these people are in emotional pain. So the idea of “bitterly distressed” works as well as any other translation.

[31:7]  ³ tn The subjects and suffixes are singular (cf. KJV, ASV, NASB). Most other English versions render this as plural for stylistic reasons, in light of the preceding context.

[31:7]  ⁴ tn The king was not to “drink and forget”; the suffering are to “drink and forget.”