利慕伊勒王的箴言

31 以下是利慕伊勒王的箴言,

    是他母亲给他的教诲:

我儿,我亲生的骨肉,
    我许愿得来的孩子啊,
    我该怎样教导你呢?
不要在女人身上耗废精力,
    不要迷恋那些能毁灭王的人。
利慕伊勒啊,
    君王不可喝酒,
    不可喝酒,
    首领不宜喝烈酒,
免得喝酒后忘记律例,
    不为困苦人伸张正义。
把烈酒给灭亡的人,
    把淡酒给忧伤的人,
让他们喝了忘掉贫穷,
    不再记得自己的痛苦。
要为不能自辩者说话,
    为一切不幸的人申冤。
你要发言,秉公审判,
    为贫穷困苦者主持公道。

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31 The words of king Lemuel, the prophecy that his mother taught him.

What, my son? and what, the son of my womb? and what, the son of my vows?

Give not thy strength unto women, nor thy ways to that which destroyeth kings.

It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine; nor for princes strong drink:

Lest they drink, and forget the law, and pervert the judgment of any of the afflicted.

Give strong drink unto him that is ready to perish, and wine unto those that be of heavy hearts.

Let him drink, and forget his poverty, and remember his misery no more.

Open thy mouth for the dumb in the cause of all such as are appointed to destruction.

Open thy mouth, judge righteously, and plead the cause of the poor and needy.

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Sayings of King Lemuel

31 The sayings(A) of King Lemuel—an inspired utterance his mother taught him.

Listen, my son! Listen, son of my womb!
    Listen, my son, the answer to my prayers!(B)
Do not spend your strength[a] on women,
    your vigor on those who ruin kings.(C)

It is not for kings, Lemuel—
    it is not for kings to drink wine,(D)
    not for rulers to crave beer,
lest they drink(E) and forget what has been decreed,(F)
    and deprive all the oppressed of their rights.
Let beer be for those who are perishing,
    wine(G) for those who are in anguish!
Let them drink(H) and forget their poverty
    and remember their misery no more.

Speak(I) up for those who cannot speak for themselves,
    for the rights of all who are destitute.
Speak up and judge fairly;
    defend the rights of the poor and needy.(J)

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 31:3 Or wealth

The Words of King Lemuel

31 The words of King Lemuel. An oracle that his mother taught him:

What are you doing, my son?[a] What are you doing, (A)son of my womb?
    What are you doing, (B)son of my vows?
Do (C)not give your strength to women,
    your ways to those (D)who destroy kings.
(E)It is not for kings, O Lemuel,
    it is not for kings (F)to drink wine,
    or for rulers to take (G)strong drink,
lest they drink and forget what has been decreed
    and (H)pervert the rights of all the afflicted.
Give strong drink to the one who (I)is perishing,
    and wine to (J)those in bitter distress;[b]
(K)let them drink and forget their poverty
    and remember their misery no more.
(L)Open your mouth for the mute,
    for the rights of all who are destitute.[c]
Open your mouth, (M)judge righteously,
    (N)defend the rights of (O)the poor and needy.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 31:2 Hebrew What, my son?
  2. Proverbs 31:6 Hebrew those bitter in soul
  3. Proverbs 31:8 Hebrew are sons of passing away