The Words of King Lemuel
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The words of King Lemuel, the utterance which his mother taught him:
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What, my son?
And what, son of my womb?
And what, a son of my vows?
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b Do not give your strength to women,
Nor your ways c to that which destroys kings.
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d It is not for kings, O Lemuel,
It is not for kings to drink wine,
Nor for princes intoxicating drink;
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e Lest they drink and forget the law,
And pervert the justice of all the afflicted.
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f Give strong drink to him who is perishing,
And wine to those who are bitter of heart.
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Let him drink and forget his poverty,
And remember his misery no more.
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g Open your mouth for the speechless,
In the cause of all who are appointed to die.
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Open your mouth, h judge righteously,
And i plead the cause of the poor and needy.
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Cross References
Isaiah 49:15
Can a woman forget her nursing child, And not have compassion on the son of her womb? Surely they may forget, Yet I will not forget you.
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Cross References
Proverbs 5:9
Lest you give your honor to others, And your years to the cruel one.
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Cross References
Deuteronomy 17:17
Neither shall he multiply wives for himself, lest his heart turn away; nor shall he greatly multiply silver and gold for himself.
1 Kings 11:1
But King Solomon loved many foreign women, as well as the daughter of Pharaoh: women of the Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, Sidonians, and Hittites -
Nehemiah 13:26
Did not Solomon king of Israel sin by these things? Yet among many nations there was no king like him, who was beloved of his God; and God made him king over all Israel. Nevertheless pagan women caused even him to sin.
Proverbs 7:26
For she has cast down many wounded, And all who were slain by her were strong men.
Hosea 4:11
Harlotry, wine, and new wine enslave the heart.
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Cross References
Ecclesiastes 10:17
Blessed are you, O land, when your king is the son of nobles, And your princes feast at the proper time - For strength and not for drunkenness!
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Cross References
Hosea 4:11
Harlotry, wine, and new wine enslave the heart.
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Cross References
Psalms 104:15
And wine that makes glad the heart of man, Oil to make his face shine, And bread which strengthens man's heart.
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Cross References
Job 29:15
I was eyes to the blind, And I was feet to the lame.
Job 29:16
I was a father to the poor, And I searched out the case that I did not know.
Psalms 82:1
God stands in the congregation of the mighty; He judges among the gods.
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Cross References
Leviticus 19:15
You shall do no injustice in judgment. You shall not be partial to the poor, nor honor the person of the mighty. In righteousness you shall judge your neighbor.
Deuteronomy 1:16
Then I commanded your judges at that time, saying, 'Hear the cases between your brethren, and judge righteously between a man and his brother or the stranger who is with him.
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Cross References
Job 29:12
Because I delivered the poor who cried out, The fatherless and the one who had no helper.
Isaiah 1:17
Learn to do good; Seek justice, Rebuke the oppressor; Defend the fatherless, Plead for the widow.
Jeremiah 22:16
He judged the cause of the poor and needy; Then it was well. Was not this knowing Me?" says the LORD.
New King James Version (NKJV) Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc.