Proverbs 31:1-9
Legacy Standard Bible
A Mother’s Oracle
31 The words of King Lemuel, the [a]oracle unto which his mother disciplined him:
2 What, O my son?
And what, O (A)son of my womb?
And what, O son of my (B)vows?
3 (C)Do not give your excellence to women,
Or your ways to that which (D)blots out kings.
4 It is not for (E)kings, O Lemuel,
It is not for kings to (F)drink wine,
Or for rulers to desire strong drink,
5 Lest he drink and forget what is decreed,
And (G)pervert the justice of all the [b]afflicted.
6 Give strong drink to him who is (H)perishing,
And wine to those (I)whose soul is bitter.
7 Let him drink and forget his poverty
And he will not remember his trouble any longer.
8 (J)Open your mouth for the mute,
For the justice of all those [c]passing away.
9 Open your mouth, (K)judge righteously,
And render (L)justice to the afflicted and needy.
Footnotes
- Proverbs 31:1 Or burden
- Proverbs 31:5 Lit sons of affliction
- Proverbs 31:8 Lit sons of passing away
Proverbs 31:1-9
New American Standard Bible 1995
The Words of Lemuel
31 The words of King Lemuel, the [a]oracle which his mother taught him:
2 What, O my son?
And what, O (A)son of my womb?
And what, O son of my (B)vows?
3 (C)Do not give your strength to women,
Or your ways to that which (D)destroys kings.
4 It is not for (E)kings, O Lemuel,
It is not for kings to (F)drink wine,
Or for rulers to desire strong drink,
5 For they will drink and forget what is decreed,
And (G)pervert the [b]rights of all the [c]afflicted.
6 Give strong drink to him who is (H)perishing,
And wine to him [d](I)whose life is bitter.
7 Let him drink and forget his poverty
And remember his trouble no more.
8 (J)Open your mouth for the mute,
For the [e]rights of all the [f]unfortunate.
9 Open your mouth, (K)judge righteously,
And [g]defend the (L)rights of the afflicted and needy.
Footnotes
- Proverbs 31:1 Or burden
- Proverbs 31:5 Lit judgment
- Proverbs 31:5 Lit sons of affliction
- Proverbs 31:6 Lit bitter of soul
- Proverbs 31:8 Lit judgment
- Proverbs 31:8 Lit sons of passing away
- Proverbs 31:9 Lit judge the afflicted
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