(A)Do not give your strength to women,
Or your ways to that which (B)destroys kings.
It is not for (C)kings, Lemuel,
It is not for kings to (D)drink wine,
Or for rulers to desire intoxicating drink,
Otherwise they will drink and forget what is decreed,
And (E)pervert the [a]rights of all the [b]needy.
Give intoxicating drink to one who is (F)perishing,
And wine to one [c](G)whose life is bitter.
Let him drink and forget his poverty,
And remember his trouble no more.
(H)Open your mouth for the people who cannot speak,
For the [d]rights of all the [e]unfortunate.
Open your mouth, (I)judge righteously,
And [f]defend the (J)rights of the poor and needy.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 31:5 Lit judgment
  2. Proverbs 31:5 Lit sons of affliction
  3. Proverbs 31:6 Lit bitter of soul
  4. Proverbs 31:8 Lit judgment
  5. Proverbs 31:8 Lit sons of passing away
  6. Proverbs 31:9 Lit judge the afflicted

Don’t give your strength to women,
    your ways to those who wipe out kings.
It isn’t for kings, Lemuel,
    it isn’t for kings to drink wine,
    for rulers to crave[a] strong drink.
Otherwise, they will drink and forget the law,
    and violate the rights of the needy.
Give strong drink to those who are perishing
    and wine to those whose hearts are bitter.
Let them drink and forget their poverty
    and no longer remember their toil.
Speak out on behalf of the voiceless,
    and for the rights of all who are vulnerable.[b]
Speak out in order to judge with righteousness
    and to defend the needy and the poor.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 31:4 Or where or or
  2. Proverbs 31:8 Or all children who are passing away