Proverbs 31:1-9
New International Version
Sayings of King Lemuel
31 The sayings(A) of King Lemuel—an inspired utterance his mother taught him.
2 Listen, my son! Listen, son of my womb!
Listen, my son, the answer to my prayers!(B)
3 Do not spend your strength[a] on women,
your vigor on those who ruin kings.(C)
4 It is not for kings, Lemuel—
it is not for kings to drink wine,(D)
not for rulers to crave beer,
5 lest they drink(E) and forget what has been decreed,(F)
and deprive all the oppressed of their rights.
6 Let beer be for those who are perishing,
wine(G) for those who are in anguish!
7 Let them drink(H) and forget their poverty
and remember their misery no more.
Footnotes
- Proverbs 31:3 Or wealth
Proverbs 31:1-9
Common English Bible
Words of King Lemuel
31 The words of King Lemuel of Massa, which his mother taught him:
2 No, my son!
No, son of my womb!
No, son of my solemn promises!
3 Don’t give your strength to women,
your ways to those who wipe out kings.
4 It isn’t for kings, Lemuel,
it isn’t for kings to drink wine,
for rulers to crave[a] strong drink.
5 Otherwise, they will drink and forget the law,
and violate the rights of the needy.
6 Give strong drink to those who are perishing
and wine to those whose hearts are bitter.
7 Let them drink and forget their poverty
and no longer remember their toil.
8 Speak out on behalf of the voiceless,
and for the rights of all who are vulnerable.[b]
9 Speak out in order to judge with righteousness
and to defend the needy and the poor.
Footnotes
- Proverbs 31:4 Or where or or
- Proverbs 31:8 Or all children who are passing away
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