Utterances of Lemuel
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Words of Lemuel, a king, a declaration that his mother taught him:
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“What, my son? And what, son of my womb? And what, son of my vows?
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Do not give your strength to women, || And your ways to wiping away of kings.
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[It is] not for kings, O Lemuel, || Not for kings, to drink wine, || And for princes—a desire of strong drink.
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Lest he drink, and forget the decree, || And change the judgment of any of the sons of affliction.
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Give strong drink to the perishing, || And wine to the bitter in soul,
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He drinks, and forgets his poverty, || And he does not remember his misery again.
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Open your mouth for the mute, || For the right of all sons of change.
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Open your mouth, judge righteously, || Both the cause of the poor and needy!”
The virtuous spouse
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[ALEPH-BET] A woman of worth who finds? Indeed, her price [is] far above rubies.
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The heart of her husband has trusted in her, || And he does not lack spoil.
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She has done him good, and not evil, || All [the] days of her life.
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She has sought wool and flax, || And with delight she works [with] her hands.
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She has been as ships of the merchant, || She brings in her bread from afar.
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Indeed, she rises while yet night, || And gives food to her household, || And a portion to her girls.
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She has considered a field, and takes it, || She has planted a vineyard from the fruit of her hands.
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She has girded her loins with might, || And strengthens her arms.
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She has perceived when her merchandise [is] good, || Her lamp is not extinguished in the night.
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She has sent forth her hands on a spindle, || And her hands have held a distaff.
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She has spread forth her hand to the poor, || Indeed, she sent forth her hands to the needy.
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She is not afraid of her household from snow, || For all her household are clothed [with] scarlet.
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She has made ornamental coverings for herself, || Silk and purple [are] her clothing.
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Her husband is known in the gates, || In his sitting with [the] elderly of [the] land.
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She has made linen garments, and sells, || And she has given a girdle to the merchant.
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Strength and honor [are] her clothing, || And she rejoices at a latter day.
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She has opened her mouth in wisdom, || And the law of kindness [is] on her tongue.
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She [is] watching the ways of her household, || And she does not eat bread of sloth.
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Her sons have risen up, and pronounce her blessed, || Her husband, and he praises her,
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“The daughters who have done worthily [are] many, || You have gone up above them all.”
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Favor [is] deceitful, and beauty [is] vain, || A woman fearing YHWH, she may boast herself.
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Give to her of the fruit of her hands, || And her works praise her in the gates!
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