The Complete Jewish Bible CJB
King James Version KJV
1 The words of King L'mu'el, the prophecy with which his mother disciplined him:
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The words of king Lemuel, the prophecy that his mother taught him.
2 No, my son! No, son of my womb! No, son of my vows!
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What, my son? and what, the son of my womb? and what, the son of my vows?
3 Don't give your strength to women or your ways to that which destroys kings.
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Give not thy strength unto women, nor thy ways to that which destroyeth 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 drink wine; nor for princes 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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Lest they drink, and forget the law, and pervert the judgment of any of the afflicted.
6 Give strong liquor to one who is perishing, wine to the deeply depressed;
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Give strong drink unto him that is ready to perish, and wine unto those that be of heavy hearts.
7 let him drink, forget his poverty and cease to remember his troubles.
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Let him drink, and forget his poverty, and remember his misery no more.
8 Speak up for those who can't speak for themselves, for the rights of all who need an advocate.
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Open thy mouth for the dumb in the cause of all such as are appointed to destruction.
9 Speak up, judge righteously, defend the cause of the poor and the needy.
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Open thy mouth, judge righteously, and plead the cause of the poor and needy.
10 Who can find a capable wife? Her value is far beyond that of pearls.
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Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies.
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 doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil.
12 She works to bring him good, not harm, all the days of her life.
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She will do 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 seeketh wool, and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands.
14 She is like those merchant vessels, bringing her food from far away.
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She is like the merchants' ships; she bringeth her food from afar.
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 riseth also while it is yet night, and giveth meat to her household, and a portion to her maidens.
16 She considers a field, then buys it, and from her earnings she plants a vineyard.
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She considereth a field, and buyeth it: with the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard.
17 She gathers her strength around her and throws herself into her work.
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She girdeth her loins with strength, and strengtheneth her arms.
18 She sees that her business affairs go well; her lamp stays lit at night.
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She perceiveth that her merchandise is good: her candle goeth not 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 layeth her hands to the spindle, and her hands hold the distaff.
20 She reaches out to embrace the poor and opens her arms to the needy.
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She stretcheth out her hand to the poor; yea, she reacheth forth her hands to the needy.
21 When it snows, she has no fear for her household; since all of them are doubly clothed.
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She is not afraid of the snow for her household: for all her household are clothed with scarlet.
22 She makes her own quilts; she is clothed in fine linen and purple.
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She maketh herself coverings of tapestry; her clothing is silk 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 known in the gates, when he sitteth among the elders of the land.
24 She makes linen garments and sells them; she supplies the merchants with sashes.
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She maketh fine linen, and selleth it; and delivereth girdles unto the merchant.
25 Clothed with strength and dignity, she can laugh at the days to come.
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Strength and honour are her clothing; and she shall rejoice in time to come.
26 When she opens her mouth, she speaks wisely; on her tongue is loving instruction.
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She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness.
27 She watches how things go in her house, not eating the bread of idleness.
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She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness.
28 Her children arise; they make her happy; her husband too, as he praises her:
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Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her.
29 "Many women have done wonderful things, but you surpass them all!"
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Many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all.
30 Charm can lie, beauty can vanish, but a woman who fears ADONAI should be praised.
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Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the LORD, she shall 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 of the fruit of her hands; and let her own works praise her in the gates.
Complete Jewish Bible Copyright 1998 by David H. Stern. Published by Jewish New Testament Publications, Inc. All rights reserved. Used by permission.
The King James Version is in the public domain.