Douay-Rheims Catholic Bible RHE
New Revised Standard NRS
1 The words of king Lamuel. The vision wherewith his mother instructed him.
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The words of King Lemuel. An oracle that his mother taught him:
2 What, O my beloved, what, O the beloved of my womb, what, O the beloved of my vows?
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No, my son! No, son of my womb! No, son of my vows!
3 Give not thy substance to women, and thy riches to destroy kings.
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Do not give your strength to women, your ways to those who destroy kings.
4 Give not to kings, O Lamuel, give not wine to kings: because there is no secret where drunkenness reigneth:
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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 And lest they drink and forget judgments, and pervert the cause of the children of the poor.
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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 them that are sad; and wine to them that are grieved in mind:
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Give strong drink to one who is perishing, and wine to those in bitter distress;
7 Let them drink, and forget their want, and remember their sorrow no more.
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let them drink and forget their poverty, and remember their misery no more.
8 Open thy mouth for the dumb, and for the causes of all the children that pass.
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Speak out for those who cannot speak, for the rights of all the destitute.
9 Open thy mouth, decree that which is just, and do justice to the needy and poor.
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Speak out, judge righteously, defend the rights of the poor and needy.
10 Who shall find a valiant woman? far, and from the uttermost coasts is the price of her.
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A capable wife who can find? She is far more precious than jewels.
11 The heart of her husband trusteth in her, and he shall have no need of spoils.
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The heart of her husband trusts in her, and he will have no lack of gain.
12 She will render him good, and not evil all the days of her life.
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She does him good, and not harm, all the days of her life.
13 She hath sought wool and flax, and hath wrought by the counsel of her hands.
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She seeks wool and flax, and works with willing hands.
14 She is like the merchant’s ship, she bringeth her bread from afar.
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She is like the ships of the merchant, she brings her food from far away.
15 And she hath risen in the night, and given a prey to her household, and victuals 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 hath considered a field, and bought it: with the fruit of her hands she hath planted a vineyard.
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She considers a field and buys it; with the fruit of her hands she plants a vineyard.
17 She hath girded her loins with strength, and hath strengthened her arm.
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She girds herself with strength, and makes her arms strong.
18 She hath tasted, and seen that her traffic is good: her lamp shall not be put out in the night.
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She perceives that her merchandise is profitable. Her lamp does not go out at night.
19 She hath put out her hand to strong things, and her fingers have taken hold of the spindle.
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She puts her hands to the distaff, and her hands hold the spindle.
20 She hath opened her hand to the needy, and stretched out her hands to the poor.
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She opens her hand to the poor, and reaches out her hands to the needy.
21 She shall not fear for her house in the cold of snow: for all her domestics are clothed with double garments.
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She is not afraid for her household when it snows, for all her household are clothed in crimson.
22 She hath made for herself clothing of tapestry: fine linen, and purple, is her covering.
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She makes herself coverings; her clothing is fine linen and purple.
23 Her husband is honourable in the gates, when he sitteth among the senators 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 made fine linen, and sold it, and delivered a girdle to the Chanaanite.
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She makes linen garments and sells them; she supplies the merchant with sashes.
25 Strength and beauty are her clothing, and she shall laugh in the latter day.
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Strength and dignity are her clothing, and she laughs at the time to come.
26 She hath opened her mouth to wisdom, and the law of clemency is on her tongue.
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She opens her mouth with wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue.
27 She hath looked well on the paths of her house, and hath not eaten her bread idle.
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She looks well to the ways of her household, and does not eat the bread of idleness.
28 Her children rose up, and called her blessed: her husband, and he praised her.
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Her children rise up and call her happy; her husband too, and he praises her:
29 Many daughters have gathered together riches: thou hast surpassed them all.
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"Many women have done excellently, but you surpass them all."
30 Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: the woman that feareth the Lord, she shall be praised.
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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 hands: and let her works praise her 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 Douay-Rheims Bible 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.