Lexham English Bible LEB
New International Version NIV
1 The words of Lemuel, [the] king--an oracle 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, my son in 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 Do not give your strength to the women, and your ways to destroy kings.
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Do not spend your strength on women, your vigor on those who ruin kings.
4 [It is] not for the kings, O Lemuel; drinking wine [is] not for the kings, nor [is] strong drink for rulers.
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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 Or else he will drink and forget what has been decreed, and he will pervert the rights of all the {afflicted}.
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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 him who is perishing, and wine to those {in bitter distress}.
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Let beer be for those who are perishing, wine for those who are in anguish!
7 He will drink and forget his poverty, and his misery he will not remember [any] more.
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Let them drink and forget their poverty and remember their misery no more.
8 Open your mouth for the mute, for the rights of all the {needy}.
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Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute.
9 Open your mouth, judge righteousness, and defend [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 excellence, who will find? For her worth [is] far more than precious jewels.
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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 trusts in her, and gain he will not lack.
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Her husband has full confidence in her and lacks nothing of value.
12 She does him good, but not harm all the days of her life.
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She brings him good, not harm, all the days of her life.
13 She seeks wool and flax, and she works with the diligence of {her hands}.
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She selects wool and flax and works with eager hands.
14 She is like the ships of a merchant; from far off she brings her food;
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She is like the merchant ships, bringing her food from afar.
15 And she arises while [it is] still night, and gives food to her household, and tasks to her servant girls.
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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 considers a field and buys it, from the fruit of {her hand} she plants a vineyard.
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She considers a field and buys it; out of her earnings she plants a vineyard.
17 She girds her waist in strength, and makes her arms strong.
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She sets about her work vigorously; her arms are strong for her tasks.
18 She perceives that her merchandise [is] good; her lamp does not go out 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 puts onto the distaff, and her palms hold a spindle.
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In her hand she holds the distaff and grasps the spindle with her fingers.
20 Her palm she opens to the poor, and her hand she reaches [out] to the needy.
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She opens her arms to the poor and extends her hands to the needy.
21 She does not fear for her house [when] it snows, for {her entire household} is clothed [in] crimson.
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When it snows, she has no fear for her household; for all of them are clothed in scarlet.
22 She makes for herself coverings; her clothing [is] fine linen and purple.
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She makes coverings for her bed; she is clothed in fine linen and purple.
23 Her husband is known at the gates, in his seat among the 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 makes and sells, and she supplies sashes for the merchants.
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She makes linen garments and sells them, and supplies the merchants with sashes.
25 Strength and dignity are her clothing, and she laughs {at the future}.
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She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come.
26 She opens her mouth with wisdom, and instruction of kindness [is] upon her tongue.
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She speaks with wisdom, and faithful instruction is on her tongue.
27 She looks after the ways of her household, and the bread of idleness she will not eat.
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She watches over the affairs of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness.
28 Her children rise and consider her happy, her husband [also], and he praises her;
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Her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her:
29 "Many daughters have done excellence, but {you surpass} all of them."
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“Many women do noble things, but you surpass them all.”
30 Charm [is] deceit and beauty [is] vain; [but] a woman who fears Yahweh shall be praised.
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Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.
31 Give to her from the fruit of her hand, and may they praise her works in the city 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.
Scripture quotations marked (LEB) are from the Lexham English Bible. Copyright 2012 Logos Bible Software. Lexham is a registered trademark of Logos Bible Software.
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.