155 lines
2.6 KiB
Markdown
155 lines
2.6 KiB
Markdown
The Sayings of King Lemuel
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# Chapter 31
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1. The sayings of King Lemuel contain this message, which his mother taught him.
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2. O my son, O son of my womb,
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O son of my vows,
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3. do not waste your strength on women,
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on those who ruin kings.
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4. It is not for kings, O Lemuel, to guzzle wine.
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Rulers should not crave alcohol.
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5. For if they drink, they may forget the law
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and not give justice to the oppressed.
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6. Alcohol is for the dying,
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and wine for those in bitter distress.
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7. Let them drink to forget their poverty
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and remember their troubles no more.
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8. Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves;
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ensure justice for those being crushed.
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9. Yes, speak up for the poor and helpless,
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and see that they get justice.
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A Wife of Noble Character
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10. Who can find a virtuous and capable wife?
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She is more precious than rubies.
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11. Her husband can trust her,
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and she will greatly enrich his life.
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12. She brings him good, not harm,
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all the days of her life.
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13. She finds wool and flax
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and busily spins it.
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14. She is like a merchant's ship,
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bringing her food from afar.
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15. She gets up before dawn to prepare breakfast for her household
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and plan the day's work for her servant girls.
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16. She goes to inspect a field and buys it;
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with her earnings she plants a vineyard.
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17. She is energetic and strong,
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a hard worker.
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18. She makes sure her dealings are profitable;
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her lamp burns late into the night.
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19. Her hands are busy spinning thread,
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her fingers twisting fiber.
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20. She extends a helping hand to the poor
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and opens her arms to the needy.
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21. She has no fear of winter for her household,
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for everyone has warm clothes.
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22. She makes her own bedspreads.
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She dresses in fine linen and purple gowns.
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23. Her husband is well known at the city gates,
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where he sits with the other civic leaders.
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24. She makes belted linen garments
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and sashes to sell to the merchants.
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25. She is clothed with strength and dignity,
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and she laughs without fear of the future.
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26. When she speaks, her words are wise,
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and she gives instructions with kindness.
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27. She carefully watches everything in her household
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and suffers nothing from laziness.
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28. Her children stand and bless her.
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Her husband praises her:
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29. "There are many virtuous and capable women in the world,
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but you surpass them all!"
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30. Charm is deceptive, and beauty does not last;
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but a woman who fears the LORD will be greatly praised.
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31. Reward her for all she has done.
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Let her deeds publicly declare her praise.
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