Proverbs 31:1-9 ▼

1 These are the words of King Lemuel— the burden that his mother taught him:

2 What shall I say, O my son? What, O son of my womb? What, O son of my vows?

3 Do not spend your strength on women or your vigor on those who ruin kings.

4 It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine, or for rulers to crave strong drink,

5 lest they drink and forget what is decreed, depriving all the oppressed of justice.

6 Give strong drink to one who is perishing, and wine to the bitter in soul.

7 Let him drink and forget his poverty, and remember his misery no more.

8 Open your mouth for those with no voice, for the cause of all the dispossessed.

9 Open your mouth, judge righteously, and defend the cause of the poor and needy.