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It is not for (A)kings, O Lemuel,
It is not for kings to (B)drink wine,
Or for rulers to desire strong drink,
Lest he drink and forget what is decreed,
And (C)pervert the justice of all the [a]afflicted.
Give strong drink to him who is (D)perishing,
And wine to those (E)whose soul is bitter.
Let him drink and forget his poverty
And he will not remember his trouble any longer.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 31:5 Lit sons of affliction

It is not for (A)kings, Lemuel,
It is not for kings to (B)drink wine,
Or for rulers to desire intoxicating drink,
Otherwise they will drink and forget what is decreed,
And (C)pervert the [a]rights of all the [b]needy.
Give intoxicating drink to one who is (D)perishing,
And wine to one [c](E)whose life is bitter.
Let him drink and forget his poverty,
And remember his trouble no more.

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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

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

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Open your mouth, (A)judge righteously,
And render (B)justice to the afflicted and needy.

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Open your mouth, (A)judge righteously,
And [a]defend the (B)rights of the poor and needy.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 31:9 Lit judge the afflicted

Speak up and judge fairly;
    defend the rights of the poor and needy.(A)

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