"MY SON"

 

The words of King Lemuel, the utterance which his mother taught him:

 

^{Proverbs 31}

 What, my son?
And what, son of my womb?
And what, son of my vows?

³ Do not give your strength to women,Nor your ways to that which destroys kings.

 

⁴ It is not for kings, O Lemuel,
It is not for kings to drink wine,
Nor for princes intoxicating drink;

⁵ Lest they drink and forget the law,
And pervert the justice of all the afflicted.

⁶ Give strong drink to him who is perishing,
And wine to those who are bitter of heart.

⁷ Let him drink and forget his poverty,
And remember his misery no more.

 

⁸ Open your mouth for the speechless,
In the cause of all who are appointed to die.

⁹ Open your mouth, judge righteously,
And plead the cause of the poor and needy.