| Young's Literal Translation (YLT) |
New International Version (NIV) |
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1 Words of Lemuel a king, a declaration that his mother taught him:
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1 The sayings of King Lemuel--an oracle his mother taught him:
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2 `What, my son? and what, son of my womb? And what, son of my vows?
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2 "O my son, O son of my womb, O son of my vows,
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3 Give not to women thy strength, And thy ways to wiping away of kings.
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3 do not spend your strength on women, your vigor on those who ruin kings.
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4 Not for kings, O Lemuel, Not for kings, to drink wine, And for princes a desire of strong drink.
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4 "It is not for kings, O Lemuel-- not for kings to drink wine, not for rulers to crave beer,
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5 Lest he drink, and forget the decree, And change the judgment of any of the sons of affliction.
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5 lest they drink and forget what the law decrees, and deprive all the oppressed of their rights.
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6 Give strong drink to the perishing, And wine to the bitter in soul,
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6 Give beer to those who are perishing, wine to those who are in anguish;
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7 He drinketh, and forgetteth his poverty, And his misery he remembereth not again.
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7 let them drink and forget their poverty and remember their misery no more.
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8 Open thy mouth for the dumb, For the right of all sons of change.
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8 "Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute.
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9 Open thy mouth, judge righteously, Both the cause of the poor and needy!'
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9 Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy."
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10 A woman of worth who doth find? Yea, far above rubies [is] her price.
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10 A wife of noble character who can find? She is worth far more than rubies.
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11 The heart of her husband hath trusted in her, And spoil he lacketh not.
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11 Her husband has full confidence in her and lacks nothing of value.
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12 She hath done him good, and not evil, All days of her life.
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12 She brings him good, not harm, all the days of her life.
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13 She hath sought wool and flax, And with delight she worketh [with] her hands.
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13 She selects wool and flax and works with eager hands.
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14 She hath been as ships of the merchant, From afar she bringeth in her bread.
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14 She is like the merchant ships, bringing her food from afar.
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15 Yea, she riseth while yet night, And giveth food to her household, And a portion to her damsels.
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15 She gets up while it is still dark; she provides food for her family and portions for her servant girls.
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16 She hath considered a field, and taketh it, From the fruit of her hands she hath planted a vineyard.
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16 She considers a field and buys it; out of her earnings she plants a vineyard.
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17 She hath girded with might her loins, And doth strengthen her arms.
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17 She sets about her work vigorously; her arms are strong for her tasks.
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18 She hath perceived when her merchandise [is] good, Her lamp is not extinguished in the night.
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18 She sees that her trading is profitable, and her lamp does not go out at night.
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19 Her hands she hath sent forth on a spindle, And her hands have held a distaff.
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19 In her hand she holds the distaff and grasps the spindle with her fingers.
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20 Her hand she hath spread forth to the poor, Yea, her hands she sent forth to the needy.
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20 She opens her arms to the poor and extends her hands to the needy.
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21 She is not afraid of her household from snow, For all her household are clothed [with] scarlet.
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21 When it snows, she has no fear for her household; for all of them are clothed in scarlet.
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22 Ornamental coverings she hath made for herself, Silk and purple [are] her clothing.
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22 She makes coverings for her bed; she is clothed in fine linen and purple.
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23 Known in the gates is her husband, In his sitting with elders of the land.
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23 Her husband is respected at the city gate, where he takes his seat among the elders of the land.
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24 Linen garments she hath made, and selleth, And a girdle she hath given to the merchant.
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24 She makes linen garments and sells them, and supplies the merchants with sashes.
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25 Strength and honour [are] her clothing, And she rejoiceth at a latter day.
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25 She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come.
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26 Her mouth she hath opened in wisdom, And the law of kindness [is] on her tongue.
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26 She speaks with wisdom, and faithful instruction is on her tongue.
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27 She [is] watching the ways of her household, And bread of sloth she eateth not.
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27 She watches over the affairs of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness.
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28 Her sons have risen up, and pronounce her happy, Her husband, and he praiseth her,
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28 Her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her:
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29 `Many [are] the daughters who have done worthily, Thou hast gone up above them all.'
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29 "Many women do noble things, but you surpass them all."
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30 The grace [is] false, and the beauty [is] vain, A woman fearing Jehovah, she may boast herself.
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30 Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.
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31 Give ye to her of the fruit of her hands, And her works do praise her in the gates!
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31 Give her the reward she has earned, and let her works bring her praise at the city gate.
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| Young's Literal Translation is in the public domain. (Young's Literal Translation - The Bible Online) |
Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NIV) are from THE HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by Biblica. All rights reserved worldwide. (New International Version Bible Online) |
