The Complete Jewish Bible CJB
The Bible in Basic English BBE
1 The words of King L'mu'el, the prophecy with which his mother disciplined him:
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The words of Lemuel, king of Massa: the teaching which he had from his mother.
2 No, my son! No, son of my womb! No, son of my vows!
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What am I to say to you, O Lemuel, my oldest son? and what, O son of my body? and what, O son of my oaths?
3 Don't give your strength to women or your ways to that which destroys kings.
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Do not give your strength to women, or your ways to that which is the destruction of kings.
4 It is not for kings, L'mu'el, not for kings to drink wine; it is not for rulers to ask, "Where can I find strong liquor?"
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It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to take wine, or for rulers to say, Where is strong drink?
5 For they may drink, then forget what has been decreed, and pervert the justice due to the poor.
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For fear that through drinking they may come to have no respect for the law, wrongly judging the cause of those who are in trouble.
6 Give strong liquor to one who is perishing, wine to the deeply depressed;
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Give strong drink to him who is near to destruction, and wine to him whose soul is bitter:
7 let him drink, forget his poverty and cease to remember his troubles.
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Let him have drink, and his need will go from his mind, and the memory of his trouble will be gone.
8 Speak up for those who can't speak for themselves, for the rights of all who need an advocate.
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Let your mouth be open for those who have no voice, in the cause of those who are ready for death.
9 Speak up, judge righteously, defend the cause of the poor and the needy.
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Let your mouth be open, judging rightly, and give right decisions in the cause of the poor and those in need.
10 Who can find a capable wife? Her value is far beyond that of pearls.
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Who may make discovery of a woman of virtue? For her price is much higher than jewels.
11 Her husband trusts her from his heart, and she will prove a great asset to him.
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The heart of her husband has faith in her, and he will have profit in full measure.
12 She works to bring him good, not harm, all the days of her life.
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She does him good and not evil all the days of her life.
13 She procures a supply of wool and flax and works with willing hands.
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She gets wool and linen, working at the business of her hands.
14 She is like those merchant vessels, bringing her food from far away.
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She is like the trading-ships, getting food from far away.
15 It's still dark when she rises to give food to her household and orders to the young women serving her.
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She gets up while it is still night, and gives meat to her family, and their food to her servant-girls.
16 She considers a field, then buys it, and from her earnings she plants a vineyard.
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After looking at a field with care, she gets it for a price, planting a vine-garden with the profit of her work.
17 She gathers her strength around her and throws herself into her work.
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She puts a band of strength round her, and makes her arms strong.
18 She sees that her business affairs go well; her lamp stays lit at night.
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She sees that her marketing is of profit to her: her light does not go out by night.
19 She puts her hands to the staff with the flax; her fingers hold the spinning rod.
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She puts her hands to the cloth-working rod, and her fingers take the wheel.
20 She reaches out to embrace the poor and opens her arms to the needy.
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Her hands are stretched out to the poor; yes, she is open-handed to those who are in need.
21 When it snows, she has no fear for her household; since all of them are doubly clothed.
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She has no fear of the snow for her family, for all those in her house are clothed in red.
22 She makes her own quilts; she is clothed in fine linen and purple.
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She makes for herself cushions of needlework; her clothing is fair linen and purple.
23 Her husband is known at the city gates when he sits with the leaders of the land.
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Her husband is a man of note in the public place, when he takes his seat among the responsible men of the land.
24 She makes linen garments and sells them; she supplies the merchants with sashes.
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She makes linen robes and gets a price for them, and traders take her cloth bands for a price.
25 Clothed with strength and dignity, she can laugh at the days to come.
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Strength and self-respect are her clothing; she is facing the future with a smile.
26 When she opens her mouth, she speaks wisely; on her tongue is loving instruction.
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Her mouth is open to give out wisdom, and the law of mercy is on her tongue.
27 She watches how things go in her house, not eating the bread of idleness.
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She gives attention to the ways of her family, she does not take her food without working for it.
28 Her children arise; they make her happy; her husband too, as he praises her:
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Her children get up and give her honour, and her husband gives her praise, saying,
29 "Many women have done wonderful things, but you surpass them all!"
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Unnumbered women have done well, but you are better than all of them.
30 Charm can lie, beauty can vanish, but a woman who fears ADONAI should be praised.
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Fair looks are a deceit, and a beautiful form is of no value; but a woman who has the fear of the Lord is to be praised.
31 Give her a share in what she produces; let her works speak her praises at the city gates.
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Give her credit for what her hands have made: let her be praised by her works in the public place.
Complete Jewish Bible Copyright 1998 by David H. Stern. Published by Jewish New Testament Publications, Inc. All rights reserved. Used by permission.
The Bible in Basic English is in the public domain.