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The |These are the| words of king Lemuel, and the Prophecy |lesson| that his mother taught him.
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My son, thou son of my body: O my dear beloved son,
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give not over thy substance and mind unto women, which are the destruction even of kings.
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O Lamuel, give kings no wine, give kings and princes no strong drink:
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Lest they being drunken forget the law, and regard not the cause of the poor, and of all such as be in adversity.
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Give strong drink unto such as are condemned to death, and wine unto those that mourne:
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that they may drink it, and forget their misery and adversity.
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Be thou an advocate and stand in judgement thyself, to speak for all such as be dumb and sucourless.
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With thy mouth defend the thing that is lawful and right, and the cause of the poor and helpless.
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((Aleph.)) Who so findeth an honest faithful woman, she is much more worth than pearls. {A woman of power and verity, if a man could find: the value of her were far above pearls.}
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((Beth.)) The heart of her husband may safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoils. {The heart of her husband trusteth in her, that he needeth not spoils.}
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((Gimel.)) She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life. {She rendereth him good and not evil all the days of her life.}
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((Daleth.)) She occupieth wool and flax, and laboureth gladly with her hands. {She sought wool and flax and did as her hands served her.}
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((He.)) She is like the merchants' ship, that bringeth her vitailles from afar. {She is like a merchant's ship that bringeth her vitailles from far.}
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((Vav.)) She is up in the night season, to provide meat for her household, and food for her maidens. {She riseth ere day and giveth meat to her household, and food to her maidens.}
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((Zain.)) She considereth land, and buyeth it, with the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard. {She considered a ground and bought it, and of the fruit of her hands planted a vine.}
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((Heth.)) She girdeth her loins with strength, and courageth her arms. {She gird her loins with strength and couraged her arms.}
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((Teth.)) And if she perceiveth that her housewifery doth good, her candle goeth not out by night. {She perceived that her housewifery was profitable, and therefore did not put out her candle by night.}
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((Yod.)) She layeth her fingers to the spindle, and her hand taketh hold of the rock. {She set her fingers to the spindle, and her hands caught hold on the distaff.}
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((Caph.)) She openeth her hand to the poor, yea she stretcheth forth her hands to such as have need. {She opened her hand to the poor, and stretched out her hands to the needy.}
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((Lamed.)) She feareth not that the cold of winter shall hurt her house, for all her household folks are double clothed. {She feared not lest the cold of snow should hurt her house, for all her household were double-clothed.}
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((Mem.)) She maketh herself fair ornaments, her clothing is white silk and purple. {She made her gay ornaments, of byss and purple was her apparel.}
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((Nun.)) Her husband is much set by in the gates, when he sitteth among the rulers of the land. {Her husband was had in honour in the gates, as he sat with the elders of the land.}
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((Samech.)) She maketh cloth of silk and selleth it, and delivereth a girdle unto the merchant. {She made linen and sold it, and delivered a girdle to the merchant.}
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((Ain.)) Strength and honour is her clothing, and in the latter day she shall rejoice. {Strength and glory were her raiment, and she laughed in the latter days.}
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((Phe.)) She openeth her mouth with wisdom, and in her tongue is the law of grace. {She opened her mouth with wisdom, and the law of righteousness was on her tongue.}
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((Zade.)) She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not her bread with idleness. {She had an eye to her household and ate not bread idly.}
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((Koph.)) Her children arise, and call her blessed: and her husband maketh much of her. {Her children arose and blessed her, and her husband commended her.}
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((Res.)) Many daughters there be that gather riches together, but thou goest above them all. {Many daughters have done excellently but thou hast passed them all.}
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((Sin.)) As for favor, it is deceitful, and beauty is a vain thing: but a woman that feareth the LORD, she is worthy to be praised. {Favour is a deceivable thing, and beauty is vanity. But a woman that feareth GOD, she shall be praised.}
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((Thau.)) Give her of the fruit of her hands, and let her own works praise her in the gates. The ende of the Proverbes of Salomon.