The Words of King Lemuel’s Mother

31 The words of King Lemuel, the utterance which his mother taught him:

What, my son?
And what, son of my womb?
And what, (A)son of my vows?
(B)Do not give your strength to women,
Nor your ways (C)to that which destroys kings.

(D)It is not for kings, O Lemuel,
It is not for kings to drink wine,
Nor for princes intoxicating drink;
(E)Lest they drink and forget the law,
And pervert the justice of all [a]the afflicted.
(F)Give strong drink to him who is perishing,
And wine to those who are bitter of heart.
Let him drink and forget his poverty,
And remember his misery no more.

(G)Open your mouth for the speechless,
In the cause of all who are [b]appointed to die.
Open your mouth, (H)judge righteously,
And (I)plead the cause of the poor and needy.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 31:5 Lit. sons of affliction
  2. Proverbs 31:8 Lit. sons of passing away

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