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. 10 A wife of noble character, who can find? She is far more precious than rubies. 11 The heart of her husband trusts in her, and he lacks nothing of value. 12 She brings him good and not harm all the days of her life.
Proverbs 31:1–12
Semantically similar passages
Psalms 82:2–4
2 “How long will you judge unjustly and show partiality to the wicked? Selah 3 Defend the cause of the weak and fatherless; uphold the rights of the afflicted and oppressed. 4 Rescue the weak and needy; save them from the hand of the wicked.
Sirach 31:24–26
24 The city will murmur at him who is a stingy with his food. The testimony of his stinginess will be accurate. (WEB) 25 Don’t show yourself valiant in wine, for wine has destroyed many. (WEB) 26 The furnace tests the temper of steel by dipping; so does wine test hearts in the quar… (WEB)
Proverbs 5:17–19
17 Let them be yours alone, never to be shared with strangers. 18 May your fountain be blessed, and may you rejoice in the wife of your youth: 19 A loving doe, a graceful fawn— may her breasts satisfy you always; may you be captivated by her love forever.
Sirach 7:18–20
18 Don’t exchange a friend for something, neither a true brother for the gold of Ophir. (WEB) 19 Don’t deprive yourself of a wise and good wife, for her grace is worth more than gold. (WEB) 20 Don’t abuse a servant who works faithfully, or a hireling who gives you his life. (WEB)
Sirach 32:12–14
12 Amuse yourself there and do what is in your heart. Don’t sin by proud speech. (WEB) 13 For these things bless your Maker, who gives you to drink freely of his good things. (WEB) 14 He who fears the Lord will receive discipline. Those who seek him early will find favor. (WEB)
Proverbs 3:26–28
26 for the LORD will be your confidence and will keep your foot from the snare. 27 Do not withhold good from the deserving when it is within your power to act. 28 Do not tell your neighbor, “Come back tomorrow and I will provide”— when you already have the means.
Job 31:15–17
15 Did not He who made me in the womb also make them? Did not the same One form us in the womb? 16 If I have denied the desires of the poor or allowed the widow’s eyes to fail, 17 if I have eaten my morsel alone, not sharing it with the fatherless—
Sirach 9:1–3
1 Don’t be jealous over the wife of your bosom, and don’t teach her an evil lesson against yourself. (WEB) 2 Don’t give your soul to a woman and let her trample down your strength. (WEB) 3 Don’t go to meet a woman who plays the prostitute, lest perhaps you fall into her snares. (WEB)
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