The Complete Jewish Bible CJB
New King James Version NKJV
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 utterance which 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, son of my womb? And what, son of my vows?
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, Nor your ways to that which destroys 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 intoxicating 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 justice of all the afflicted.
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 perishing, And wine to those who are bitter of heart.
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 your mouth for the speechless, In the cause of all who are appointed to die.
9 Speak up, judge righteously, defend the cause of the poor and the needy.
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Open your 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 wife? For her worth 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 safely trusts her; So he will have no lack of gain.
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 seeks wool and flax, And willingly works with her hands.
14 She is like those merchant vessels, bringing her food from far away.
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She is like the merchant ships, She brings 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 also rises while it is yet night, And provides food for her household, And a portion for her maidservants.
16 She considers a field, then buys it, and from her earnings she plants a vineyard.
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She considers a field and buys it; From her profits she plants a vineyard.
17 She gathers her strength around her and throws herself into her work.
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She girds herself with strength, And strengthens her arms.
18 She sees that her business affairs go well; her lamp stays lit at night.
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She perceives that her merchandise is good, And her lamp 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 stretches out her hands to the distaff, And her hand holds the spindle.
20 She reaches out to embrace the poor and opens her arms to the needy.
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She extends her hand to the poor, Yes, she reaches out 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 snow for her household, For all her household is clothed with scarlet.
22 She makes her own quilts; she is clothed in fine linen and purple.
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She makes tapestry for herself; Her clothing is fine 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 known in the gates, When he sits 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 makes linen garments and sells them, And supplies sashes for the merchants.
25 Clothed with strength and dignity, she can laugh at the days to come.
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Strength and honor are her clothing; 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 opens her mouth with wisdom, And on 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 watches over the ways of her household, And does not eat 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 rise up and call her blessed; Her husband also, and he praises her:
29 "Many women have done wonderful things, but you surpass them all!"
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"Many daughters have done well, But you excel them all."
30 Charm can lie, beauty can vanish, but a woman who fears ADONAI should be praised.
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Charm is deceitful and beauty is passing, But a woman who fears 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.