Proverbs 31:1–9 — King Lemuel’s sayings

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Readers’ Version

Literal Version

31:1 King Lemuel’s sayings

31 These are the sayings by King Lemuel, the burden, that his mother had taught him:

2 Now what my son? My son that I gave birth to.

≈ The son from my marriage.

3 Don’t give your strength to women,

or use your intelligence to destroy kings.

4 Lemuel, it’s not for kings to drink wine

or for rulers to crave strong drink,

5 in case they drink and forget their own laws

and end up depriving the poor of justice.

6 Give strong drink to those who are dying,

≈ and wine to those who are bitterly depressed.

7 They’ll drink it then forget their poverty,

≈ and not remember their misery any more.

8 Open your mouth for those who can’t speak—

for the cause of all those who are dying.

9 Open your mouth to promote justice,

and to defend the poor and needy.

31 The _words/messages _of Ləmū^ʼēl the_king an _oracle which she_instructed _him his/its_mother.

2 What my _son _of_my and_what Oh _son _of my _womb _of_my and_what Oh _son _of my _vows _of_my.

3 Do _not give to_women strength _of_your and_ways _of_your to_wiping _out kings.

4 Not is_for_kings Oh _Ləmū^ʼēl not for_kings to _drink wine and_for_rulers where[fn] strong _drink.

5 Lest he _should _drink and_he _will _forget that _which _is_decreed and_he _will _change the_cause _of all _of the_sons _of affliction.

6 Give strong _drink to_one _who_is_perishing and_wine to_people_bitter _of soul.

7 He _will _drink and_he _will _forget poverty _of_his and_trouble _of_his not he _will _remember again.

8 Open mouth _of_your for_the_dumb to the_cause _of all _of the_sons _of passing _away.

9 Open mouth _of_your judge righteousness and_plead _the _cause _of the_poor and_the_needy.

31:4 OSHB variant note: או: (x-qere) ’אֵ֣י’: lemma=335 morph=HTi id=20nHM אֵ֣י

OET by section PROV 31:1

King Lemuel’s sayings

Readers’ Version

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Literal Version