Pro 31:1-9 | ESV | STEP | The words of King Lemuel . An oracle that his mother taught him:

Proverbs 31:1-9

The Words of King Lemuel

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

2 What are you doing, my son? ^{▼▼Hebrew What, my son?} What are you doing, ^bson of my womb?
What are you doing, ^cson of my vows?
3 Do ^dnot give your strength to women,
your ways to those ^ewho destroy kings.
4 ^fIt is not for kings, O Lemuel,
it is not for kings ^gto drink wine,
or for rulers to take ^hstrong drink,
5 lest they drink and forget what has been decreed
and ⁱpervert the rights of all the afflicted.
6 Give strong drink to the one who ^jis perishing,
and wine to ^kthose in bitter distress; ^{▼▼Hebrew those bitter in soul}
7 ^mlet them drink and forget their poverty
and remember their misery no more.
8 ⁿOpen your mouth for the mute,
for the rights of all who are destitute. ^{▼▼Hebrew are sons of passing away}
9 Open your mouth, ^pjudge righteously,
^qdefend the rights of ^rthe poor and needy.