The Words of Lemuel
The words of King Lemuel, the 1oracle which his mother taught him:Or burden
2 What, O my son?And what, O ason of my womb?And what, O son of my bvows?Is 49:151 Sam 1:113 aDo not give your strength to women,Or your ways to that which bdestroys kings.Prov 5:9Deut 17:17; 1 Kin 11:1; Neh 13:264 It is not for akings, O Lemuel,It is not for kings to bdrink wine,Or for rulers to desire strong drink,Eccl 10:17Prov 20:1; Is 5:22; Hos 4:115 For they will drink and forget what is decreed,And apervert the 1rights of all the 2afflicted.Lit judgmentLit sons of afflictionEx 23:6; Deut 16:19; Prov 17:156 Give strong drink to him who is aperishing,And wine to him 1bwhose life is bitter.Lit bitter of soulJob 29:13Job 3:20; Is 38:157 Let him drink and forget his povertyAnd remember his trouble no more.8 aOpen your mouth for the mute,For the 1rights of all the 2unfortunate.Lit judgmentLit sons of passing awayJob 29:12-17; Ps 829 Open your mouth, ajudge righteously,And 1defend the brights of the afflicted and needy.Lit judge the afflictedLev 19:15; Deut 1:16Is 1:17; Jer 22:16
Description of a Worthy Woman
10 An aexcellent wife, who can find?For her worth is far babove jewels.Ruth 3:11; Prov 12:4; 19:14Job 28:18; Prov 8:1111 The heart of her husband trusts in her,And he will have no lack of gain.12 She does him good and not evilAll the days of her life.13 She looks for wool and flaxAnd works with her 1hands 2in delight.Lit palmsOr willingly14 She is like amerchant ships;She brings her food from afar.Ezek 27:2515 She arises also while it is still nightAnd bgives food to her householdAnd 1portions to her maidens.Or prescribed tasksProv 20:13; Rom 12:11Luke 12:4216 She considers a field and buys it;From 1her earnings she plants a vineyard.Lit the fruit of her palms17 She agirds 1herself with strengthAnd makes her arms strong.Lit her loins1 Kin 18:46; 2 Kin 4:29; Job 38:318 She senses that her gain is good;Her lamp does not go out at night.19 She stretches out her hands to the distaff,And her 1hands grasp the spindle.Lit palms20 She 1aextends her hand to the poor,And she stretches out her hands to the needy.Lit spreads out her palmDeut 15:11; Job 31:16-20; Prov 22:9; Rom 12:13; Eph 4:2821 She is not afraid of the snow for her household,For all her household are aclothed with scarlet.2 Sam 1:2422 She makes acoverings for herself;Her clothing is bfine linen and cpurple.Prov 7:16Gen 41:42; Rev 19:8, 14Judg 8:26; Luke 16:1923 Her husband is known ain the gates,When he sits among the elders of the land.Deut 16:18; Ruth 4:1, 1124 She makes alinen garments and sells them,And 1supplies belts to the 2tradesmen.Lit givesLit CanaaniteJudg 14:1225 Strength and adignity are her clothing,And she smiles at the 1future.Lit latter days1 Tim 2:9, 1026 She aopens her mouth in wisdom,And the 1teaching of kindness is on her tongue.Or lawProv 10:3127 She looks well to the ways of her household,And does not eat the abread of idleness.Prov 19:1528 Her children rise up and bless her;Her husband also, and he praises her, saying:29 “Many daughters have done nobly,But you excel them all.”30 Charm is deceitful and beauty is vain,But a woman who 1afears the LORD, she shall be praised.Or reverencesPs 112:1; Prov 22:431 Give her the 1product of her hands,And let her works praise her in the gates.Lit fruit