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Proverbs 31:3-9
Lexham English Bible

3 Do not give your strength to the women,
    and your ways to destroy kings.
4 It is not for the kings, O Lemuel;
    drinking wine is not for the kings,
    nor is strong drink for rulers.
5 Or else he will drink and forget what has been decreed,
    and he will pervert the rights[a] of all the afflicted.[b]
6 Give strong drink to him who is perishing,
    and wine to those in bitter distress.[c]
7 He will drink and forget his poverty,
    and his misery he will not remember any more.
8 Open your mouth for the mute,
    for the rights[d] of all the needy.[e]
9 Open your mouth, judge righteousness,
    and defend the poor and needy.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 31:5 Hebrew “right”
  2. Proverbs 31:5 Literally “sons of affliction”
  3. Proverbs 31:6 Literally “to bitterness of soul”
  4. Proverbs 31:8 Hebrew “right”
  5. Proverbs 31:8 Literally “the sons of the needy”
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Proverbs 31:3-9
Christian Standard Bible

3 Don’t spend your energy(A) on women
or your efforts on those who destroy kings.(B)
4 It is not for kings, Lemuel,
it is not for kings(C) to drink wine(D)
or for rulers to desire beer.
5 Otherwise, he will drink,
forget what is decreed,(E)
and pervert justice for all the oppressed.[a](F)
6 Give beer to one who is dying
and wine to one whose life is bitter.(G)
7 Let him drink so that he can forget his poverty
and remember his trouble no more.(H)
8 Speak up[b] for those who have no voice,[c](I)
for the justice of all who are dispossessed.[d]
9 Speak up, judge righteously,(J)
and defend the cause of the oppressed and needy.(K)

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Footnotes

  1. 31:5 Lit sons of affliction
  2. 31:8 Lit Open your mouth, also in v. 9
  3. 31:8 Lit who are mute
  4. 31:8 Lit all the sons of passing away
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Proverbs 31:3-9
New International Version

3 Do not spend your strength[a] on women,
    your vigor on those who ruin kings.(A)

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

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

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 31:3 Or wealth
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Proverbs 30
Ecclesiastes 1
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Lexham English Bible (LEB)

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