Proverbs 31

Proverbs 31:1-9

The Words of King Lemuel

31:1 The words of King Lemuel. An oracle that his mother taught him:

2   What are you doing, my son?¹ What are you doing, son of my womb?
    What are you doing, son of my vows?
3   Do not give your strength to women,
    your ways to those who destroy kings.
4   It is not for kings, O Lemuel,
    it is not for kings to drink wine,
    or for rulers to take strong drink,
5   lest they drink and forget what has been decreed
    and pervert the rights of all the afflicted.
6   Give strong drink to the one who is perishing,
    and wine to those in bitter distress;²
7   let them drink and forget their poverty
    and remember their misery no more.
8   Open your mouth for the mute,
    for the rights of all who are destitute.³
9   Open your mouth, judge righteously,
    defend the rights of the poor and needy.

Footnotes

[1] 31:2 Hebrew What, my son?

[2] 31:6 Hebrew those bitter in soul

[3] 31:8 Hebrew are sons of passing away

(ESV)