Give not thy strength unto women, nor thy ways to that which destroyeth kings.
King Lemuel's mother is giving him practical advice about being a good ruler. She's warning him not to waste his energy and leadership on sexual pursuits or relationships that could compromise his ability to govern wisely. This isn't anti-women — it's pro-wisdom, telling a leader to guard his focus and strength for what actually matters.
God, I give away pieces of myself to things that don't matter and then wonder why I'm exhausted. Give me wisdom to know what's worth my energy. Help me say no to good things so I can say yes to best things. Amen.
Think about your actual, limited energy like a phone battery. Every scroll, every late-night argument, every person you're trying to impress drains a little more. King Lemuel's mom is basically saying, "Stop running apps that kill your battery before noon." She's not just talking about sexual temptation — she's talking about anything that hijacks your attention from what you're actually meant to do. What are you spending your strength on? Maybe it's not romantic drama, but it's the three hours lost to comparison on social media, or the emotional energy you pour into making sure everyone likes you. Your vigor is finite. What if you started treating it like the precious resource it actually is? What might change if you stopped giving your best hours and clearest thoughts to things that don't even matter next week?
Why would relationships potentially 'ruin kings' — what specific dangers was this mother warning about?
What are the modern equivalents of 'spending your strength on women' in your life?
How do you personally know when something is draining your vigor versus when it's a worthy investment?
What would it look like to be as protective of your emotional/mental energy as you are of your money?
What's one specific 'drain' you could unplug from this week, and what would you do with that reclaimed energy?
Do not give your [generative] strength to women [neither foreign wives in marriages of alliances, nor concubines], Nor your ways to that which destroys kings.
AMP
Do not give your strength to women, your ways to those who destroy kings.
ESV
Do not give your strength to women, Or your ways to that which destroys kings.
NASB
do not spend your strength on women, your vigor on those who ruin kings.
NIV
Do not give your strength to women, Nor your ways to that which destroys kings.
NKJV
do not waste your strength on women, on those who ruin kings.
NLT
Don't dissipate your virility on fortune-hunting women, promiscuous women who shipwreck leaders.
MSG