Proverbs 31:1-9 ▼

1 Words of Lemuel, a king, a declaration that his mother taught him:

2 “What, my son? And what, son of my womb? And what, son of my vows?

3 Do not give your strength to women, || And your ways to wiping away of kings.

4 [It is] not for kings, O Lemuel, || Not for kings, to drink wine, || And for princes—a desire of strong drink.

5 Lest he drink, and forget the decree, || And change the judgment of any of the sons of affliction.

6 Give strong drink to the perishing, || And wine to the bitter in soul,

7 He drinks, and forgets his poverty, || And he does not remember his misery again.

8 Open your mouth for the mute, || For the right of all sons of change.

9 Open your mouth, judge righteously, || Both the cause of the poor and needy!”