Young's Literal Translation YLT
New International Version NIV
1 Words of Lemuel a king, a declaration that his mother taught him:
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The sayings of King Lemuel—an inspired utterance his mother taught him.
2 `What, my son? and what, son of my womb? And what, son of my vows?
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Listen, my son! Listen, son of my womb! Listen, my son, the answer to my prayers!
3 Give not to women thy strength, And thy ways to wiping away of kings.
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Do not spend your strength on women, your vigor on those who ruin kings.
4 Not for kings, O Lemuel, Not for kings, to drink wine, And for princes a desire of strong drink.
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It is not for kings, Lemuel— it is not for kings to drink wine, not for rulers to crave beer,
5 Lest he drink, and forget the decree, And change the judgment of any of the sons of affliction.
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lest they drink and forget what has been decreed, and deprive all the oppressed of their rights.
6 Give strong drink to the perishing, And wine to the bitter in soul,
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Let beer be for those who are perishing, wine for those who are in anguish!
7 He drinketh, and forgetteth his poverty, And his misery he remembereth not again.
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Let them drink and forget their poverty and remember their misery no more.
8 Open thy mouth for the dumb, For the right of all sons of change.
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Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute.
9 Open thy mouth, judge righteously, Both the cause of the poor and needy!'
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Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy.
10 A woman of worth who doth find? Yea, far above rubies [is] her price.
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A wife of noble character who can find? She is worth far more than rubies.
11 The heart of her husband hath trusted in her, And spoil he lacketh not.
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Her husband has full confidence in her and lacks nothing of value.
12 She hath done him good, and not evil, All days of her life.
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She brings him good, not harm, all the days of her life.
13 She hath sought wool and flax, And with delight she worketh [with] her hands.
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She selects wool and flax and works with eager hands.
14 She hath been as ships of the merchant, From afar she bringeth in her bread.
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She is like the merchant ships, bringing her food from afar.
15 Yea, she riseth while yet night, And giveth food to her household, And a portion to her damsels.
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She gets up while it is still night; she provides food for her family and portions for her female servants.
16 She hath considered a field, and taketh it, From the fruit of her hands she hath planted a vineyard.
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She considers a field and buys it; out of her earnings she plants a vineyard.
17 She hath girded with might her loins, And doth strengthen her arms.
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She sets about her work vigorously; her arms are strong for her tasks.
18 She hath perceived when her merchandise [is] good, Her lamp is not extinguished in the night.
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She sees that her trading is profitable, and her lamp does not go out at night.
19 Her hands she hath sent forth on a spindle, And her hands have held a distaff.
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In her hand she holds the distaff and grasps the spindle with her fingers.
20 Her hand she hath spread forth to the poor, Yea, her hands she sent forth to the needy.
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She opens her arms to the poor and extends her hands to the needy.
21 She is not afraid of her household from snow, For all her household are clothed [with] scarlet.
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When it snows, she has no fear for her household; for all of them are clothed in scarlet.
22 Ornamental coverings she hath made for herself, Silk and purple [are] her clothing.
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She makes coverings for her bed; she is clothed in fine linen and purple.
23 Known in the gates is her husband, In his sitting with elders of the land.
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Her husband is respected at the city gate, where he takes his seat among the elders of the land.
24 Linen garments she hath made, and selleth, And a girdle she hath given to the merchant.
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She makes linen garments and sells them, and supplies the merchants with sashes.
25 Strength and honour [are] her clothing, And she rejoiceth at a latter day.
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She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come.
26 Her mouth she hath opened in wisdom, And the law of kindness [is] on her tongue.
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She speaks with wisdom, and faithful instruction is on her tongue.
27 She [is] watching the ways of her household, And bread of sloth she eateth not.
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She watches over the affairs of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness.
28 Her sons have risen up, and pronounce her happy, Her husband, and he praiseth her,
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Her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her:
29 `Many [are] the daughters who have done worthily, Thou hast gone up above them all.'
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“Many women do noble things, but you surpass them all.”
30 The grace [is] false, and the beauty [is] vain, A woman fearing Jehovah, she may boast herself.
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Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.
31 Give ye to her of the fruit of her hands, And her works do praise her in the gates!
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Honor her for all that her hands have done, and let her works bring her praise at the city gate.
Young's Literal Translation is in the public domain.
Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NIV) are from THE HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica. All rights reserved worldwide.