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Do not give your [generative] strength to women [neither foreign wives in marriages of alliances, nor [a]concubines],
Nor your ways to that which destroys kings.

It is not for kings, O Lemuel,
It is not for kings to drink wine,
Or for rulers to desire strong drink,(A)

Otherwise they drink and forget the law and its decrees,
And pervert the rights and justice of all the afflicted.

Give strong drink [as medicine] to him who is ready to pass away,
And wine to him whose life is bitter.

Let him drink and forget his poverty
And no longer remember his trouble.

Open your mouth for the mute,
For the rights of all who are unfortunate and defenseless;(B)

Open your mouth, judge righteously,
And administer justice for the afflicted and needy.(C)

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 31:3 See note Gen 22:24.

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