Septuagint Bible w/ Apocrypha LXX
New Revised Standard w/ Apocrypha NRSA
1 My words have been spoken by God—the oracular answer of a king, whom his mother instructed.
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The words of King Lemuel. An oracle that his mother taught him:
2 What wilt thou keep, my son, what? the words of God. My firstborn son, I speak to thee: what? son of my womb? what? son of my vows?
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No, my son! No, son of my womb! No, son of my vows!
3 Give not thy wealth to women, nor thy mind and living to remorse. Do all things with counsel: drink wine with counsel.
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Do not give your strength to women, your ways to those who destroy kings.
4 Princes are prone to anger: let them then not drink wine:
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It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine, or for rulers to desire strong drink;
5 lest they drink, and forget wisdom, and be not able to judge the poor rightly.
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or else they will drink and forget what has been decreed, and will pervert the rights of all the afflicted.
6 Give strong drink to those that are in sorrow, and the wine to drink to those in pain:
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Give strong drink to one who is perishing, and wine to those in bitter distress;
7 that they may forget their poverty, and may not remember their troubles any more.
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let them drink and forget their poverty, and remember their misery no more.
8 Open thy mouth with the word of God, and judge all fairly.
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Speak out for those who cannot speak, for the rights of all the destitute.
9 Open thy mouth and judge justly, and plead the cause of the poor and weak.
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Speak out, judge righteously, defend the rights of the poor and needy.
10 Who shall find a virtuous woman? for such a one is more valuable than precious stones.
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A capable wife who can find? She is far more precious than jewels.
11 The heart of her husband trusts in her: such a one shall stand in no need of fine spoils.
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The heart of her husband trusts in her, and he will have no lack of gain.
12 For she employs all her living for her husband's good.
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She does him good, and not harm, all the days of her life.
13 Gathering wool and flax, she makes it serviceable with her hands.
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She seeks wool and flax, and works with willing hands.
14 She is like a ship trading from a distance: so she procures her livelihood.
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She is like the ships of the merchant, she brings her food from far away.
15 And she rises by night, and gives food to her household, and tasks to her maidens.
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She rises while it is still night and provides food for her household and tasks for her servant-girls.
16 She views a farm, and buys it: and with the fruit of her hands she plants and a possession.
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She considers a field and buys it; with the fruit of her hands she plants a vineyard.
17 She strongly girds her loins, and strengthens her arms for work.
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She girds herself with strength, and makes her arms strong.
18 And she finds by experience that working is good; and her candle goes not out all night.
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She perceives that her merchandise is profitable. Her lamp does not go out at night.
19 She reaches forth her arms to needful , and applies her hands to the spindle.
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She puts her hands to the distaff, and her hands hold the spindle.
20 And she opens her hands to the needy, and reaches out fruit to the poor.
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She opens her hand to the poor, and reaches out her hands to the needy.
21 Her husband is not anxious about those at home when he tarries anywhere abroad: for all her household are clothed.
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She is not afraid for her household when it snows, for all her household are clothed in crimson.
22 She makes for her husband clothes of double texture, and garments for herself of fine linen and scarlet.
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She makes herself coverings; her clothing is fine linen and purple.
23 And her husband becomes a distinguished in the gates, when he sits in council with the old inhabitants of the land.
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Her husband is known in the city gates, taking his seat among the elders of the land.
24 She makes fine linens, and sells girdles to the Chananites: she opens her mouth heedfully and with propriety, and controls her tongue.
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She makes linen garments and sells them; she supplies the merchant with sashes.
25 She puts on strength and honour; and rejoices in the last days.
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Strength and dignity are her clothing, and she laughs at the time to come.
26 But she opens her mouth wisely, and according to law.
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She opens her mouth with wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue.
27 The ways of her household are careful, and she eats not the bread of idleness.
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She looks well to the ways of her household, and does not eat the bread of idleness.
28 And kindness to them sets up her children for them, and they grow rich, and her husband praises her.
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Her children rise up and call her happy; her husband too, and he praises her:
29 Many daughters have obtained wealth, many have wrought valiantly; but thou hast exceeded, thou hast surpassed all.
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"Many women have done excellently, but you surpass them all."
30 Charms are false, and woman's beauty is vain: for it is a wise woman that is blessed, and let her praise the fear the Lord.
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Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.
31 Give her of the fruit of her lips; and let her husband be praised in the gates.
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Give her a share in the fruit of her hands, and let her works praise her in the city gates.
The Brenton translation of the Septuagint is in the public domain.
New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.