New Living Translation NLT
The Complete Jewish Bible CJB
1 The sayings of King Lemuel contain this message, which his mother taught him.
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The words of King L'mu'el, the prophecy with which his mother disciplined him:
2 O my son, O son of my womb, O son of my vows,
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No, my son! No, son of my womb! No, son of my vows!
3 do not waste your strength on women, on those who ruin kings.
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Don't give your strength to women or your ways to that which destroys kings.
4 It is not for kings, O Lemuel, to guzzle wine. Rulers should not crave alcohol.
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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?"
5 For if they drink, they may forget the law and not give justice to the oppressed.
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For they may drink, then forget what has been decreed, and pervert the justice due to the poor.
6 Alcohol is for the dying, and wine for those in bitter distress.
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Give strong liquor to one who is perishing, wine to the deeply depressed;
7 Let them drink to forget their poverty and remember their troubles no more.
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let him drink, forget his poverty and cease to remember his troubles.
8 Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves; ensure justice for those being crushed.
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Speak up for those who can't speak for themselves, for the rights of all who need an advocate.
9 Yes, speak up for the poor and helpless, and see that they get justice.
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Speak up, judge righteously, defend the cause of the poor and the needy.
10 Who can find a virtuous and capable wife? She is more precious than rubies.
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Who can find a capable wife? Her value is far beyond that of pearls.
11 Her husband can trust her, and she will greatly enrich his life.
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Her husband trusts her from his heart, and she will prove a great asset to him.
12 She brings him good, not harm, all the days of her life.
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She works to bring him good, not harm, all the days of her life.
13 She finds wool and flax and busily spins it.
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She procures a supply of wool and flax and works with willing hands.
14 She is like a merchant’s ship, bringing her food from afar.
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She is like those merchant vessels, bringing her food from far away.
15 She gets up before dawn to prepare breakfast for her household and plan the day’s work for her servant girls.
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It's still dark when she rises to give food to her household and orders to the young women serving her.
16 She goes to inspect a field and buys it; with her earnings she plants a vineyard.
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She considers a field, then buys it, and from her earnings she plants a vineyard.
17 She is energetic and strong, a hard worker.
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She gathers her strength around her and throws herself into her work.
18 She makes sure her dealings are profitable; her lamp burns late into the night.
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She sees that her business affairs go well; her lamp stays lit at night.
19 Her hands are busy spinning thread, her fingers twisting fiber.
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She puts her hands to the staff with the flax; her fingers hold the spinning rod.
20 She extends a helping hand to the poor and opens her arms to the needy.
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She reaches out to embrace the poor and opens her arms to the needy.
21 She has no fear of winter for her household, for everyone has warm clothes.
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When it snows, she has no fear for her household; since all of them are doubly clothed.
22 She makes her own bedspreads. She dresses in fine linen and purple gowns.
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She makes her own quilts; she is clothed in fine linen and purple.
23 Her husband is well known at the city gates, where he sits with the other civic leaders.
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Her husband is known at the city gates when he sits with the leaders of the land.
24 She makes belted linen garments and sashes to sell to the merchants.
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She makes linen garments and sells them; she supplies the merchants with sashes.
25 She is clothed with strength and dignity, and she laughs without fear of the future.
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Clothed with strength and dignity, she can laugh at the days to come.
26 When she speaks, her words are wise, and she gives instructions with kindness.
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When she opens her mouth, she speaks wisely; on her tongue is loving instruction.
27 She carefully watches everything in her household and suffers nothing from laziness.
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She watches how things go in her house, not eating the bread of idleness.
28 Her children stand and bless her. Her husband praises her:
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Her children arise; they make her happy; her husband too, as he praises her:
29 “There are many virtuous and capable women in the world, but you surpass them all!”
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"Many women have done wonderful things, but you surpass them all!"
30 Charm is deceptive, and beauty does not last; but a woman who fears the LORD will be greatly praised.
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Charm can lie, beauty can vanish, but a woman who fears ADONAI should be praised.
31 Reward her for all she has done. Let her deeds publicly declare her praise.
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Give her a share in what she produces; let her works speak her praises at the city gates.
Holy Bible. New Living Translation copyright© 1996, 2004, 2007, 2013 by
Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Complete Jewish Bible Copyright 1998 by David H. Stern. Published by Jewish New Testament Publications, Inc. All rights reserved. Used by permission.