The Sayings for King Lemuel 1 CPDV The words of king Lamuel. The vision by which his mother instructed him: BSB BSB: These are the words of King Lemuel—the burden that his mother taught him:
2 CPDV “What, O my beloved? What, O beloved of my womb? What, O beloved of my vows? BSB BSB: What shall I say, O my son? What, O son of my womb? What, O son of my vows?
3 CPDV Do not give your substance to women, or your riches to overthrow kings. BSB BSB: Do not spend your strength on women or your vigor on those who ruin kings.
4 CPDV Not to kings, O Lamuel, not to kings give wine. For there are no secrets where drunkenness reigns. BSB BSB: It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine, or for rulers to crave strong drink,
5 CPDV And perhaps they may drink and forget judgments, and alter the case of the sons of the poor. BSB BSB: lest they drink and forget what is decreed, depriving all the oppressed of justice.
6 CPDV Give strong drink to the grieving, and wine to those who are bitter in soul. BSB BSB: Give strong drink to one who is perishing, and wine to the bitter in soul.
7 CPDV Let them drink, and forget their needs, and remember their sorrow no more. BSB BSB: Let him drink and forget his poverty, and remember his misery no more.
8 CPDV Open your mouth for the mute and for all the cases of the sons who are passing through. BSB BSB: Open your mouth for those with no voice, for the cause of all the dispossessed.
9 CPDV Open your mouth, declare what is just, and do justice to the indigent and the poor. BSB BSB: Open your mouth, judge righteously, and defend the cause of the poor and needy.
The Virtues of a Noble Woman 10 CPDV Who shall find a strong woman? Far away, and from the furthest parts, is her price. BSB BSB: A wife of noble character, who can find? She is far more precious than rubies.
11 CPDV The heart of her husband confides in her, and he will not be deprived of spoils. BSB BSB: The heart of her husband trusts in her, and he lacks nothing of value.
12 CPDV She will repay him with good, and not evil, all the days of her life. BSB BSB: She brings him good and not harm all the days of her life.
13 CPDV She has sought wool and flax, and she has worked these by the counsel of her hands. BSB BSB: She selects wool and flax and works with eager hands.
14 CPDV She has become like a merchant’s ship, bringing her bread from far away. BSB BSB: She is like the merchant ships, bringing her food from afar.
15 CPDV And she has risen in the night, and given a prey to her household, and provisions to her maids. BSB BSB: She rises while it is still night to provide food for her household and portions for her maidservants.
16 CPDV She has considered a field and bought it. From the fruit of her own hands, she has planted a vineyard. BSB BSB: She appraises a field and buys it; from her earnings she plants a vineyard.
17 CPDV She has wrapped her waist with fortitude, and she has strengthened her arm. BSB BSB: She girds herself with strength and shows that her arms are strong.
18 CPDV She has tasted and seen that her tasks are good; her lamp shall not be extinguished at night. BSB BSB: She sees that her gain is good, and her lamp is not extinguished at night.
19 CPDV She has put her hand to strong things, and her fingers have taken hold of the spindle. BSB BSB: She stretches out her hands to the distaff and grasps the spindle with her fingers.
20 CPDV She has opened her hand to the needy, and she has extended her hands to the poor. BSB BSB: She opens her arms to the poor and reaches out her hands to the needy.
21 CPDV She shall not fear, in the cold of snow, for her household. For all those of her household have been clothed two-fold. BSB BSB: When it snows, she has no fear for her household, for they are all clothed in scarlet.
22 CPDV She has made embroidered clothing for herself. Fine linen and purple is her garment. BSB BSB: She makes coverings for her bed; her clothing is fine linen and purple.
23 CPDV Her husband is noble at the gates, when he sits among the senators of the land. BSB BSB: Her husband is known at the city gates, where he sits among the elders of the land.
24 CPDV She has made finely woven cloth and sold it, and she has delivered a waistband to the Canaanite. BSB BSB: She makes linen garments and sells them; she delivers sashes to the merchants.
25 CPDV Strength and elegance are her clothing, and she will laugh in the final days. BSB BSB: Strength and honor are her clothing, and she can laugh at the days to come.
26 CPDV She has opened her mouth to wisdom, and the law of clemency is on her tongue. BSB BSB: She opens her mouth with wisdom, and faithful instruction is on her tongue.
27 CPDV She has considered the paths of her household, and she has not eaten her bread in idleness. BSB BSB: She watches over the affairs of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness.
28 CPDV Her sons rose up and predicted great happiness; her husband rose up and praised her. BSB BSB: Her children rise up and call her blessed; her husband praises her as well:
29 CPDV Many daughters have gathered together riches; you have surpassed them all. BSB BSB: “Many daughters have done noble things, but you surpass them all!”
30 CPDV Charm is false, and beauty is vain. The woman who fears the Lord, the same shall be praised. BSB BSB: Charm is deceptive and beauty is fleeting, but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.
31 CPDV Give to her from the fruit of her own hands. And let her works praise her at the gates. BSB BSB: Give her the fruit of her hands, and let her works praise her at the gates.
Select verses for actions: Enter goes to them and Escape comes back.