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Expanded Comments |
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| 1 The words of Lemuel the king,–the strain which was taught him by his mother:– |
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| 2 What, my son? and what, the son of my womb? aye what, the son of my vows? |
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| 3 Do not give, to women, thy strength, nor thy ways, to them who ruin kings. |
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| 4 It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine, nor, for dignitaries, to desire strong drink, |
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| 5 Lest he drink, and forget that which is decreed, and alter the plea of any who are sorely oppressed. |
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| 6 Give strong drink, to him that is perishing, and wine, to such as are embittered in soul: |
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| 7 Let him drink, and forget his poverty, and, his wearying toil, let him remember no more.
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Forget his poverty – This advice of King Lemuel is contrary to true wisdom. R1521:4
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| 8 Open thy mouth for the dumb, for the cause of all the children of the departed. |
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| 9 Open thy mouth–judge righteously,–and administer justice for the poor and the needy. |
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| 10 A virtuous woman, who can find? for, far beyond corals, is her worth. |
A virtuous woman – Uninspired, not by Solomon, and not at all the present ideal. R1520:3
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| 11 The heart of her husband, trusteth her, and, gain, he shall not lack: |
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| 12 She doeth him good and not evil, all the days of her life: |
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| 13 She seeketh wool and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands: |
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| 14 She is like the ships of the merchant, from afar, she bringeth in her food; |
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| 15 And she riseth, while yet it is night, and giveth food to her household, and a task to her maidens: |
While It Is yet night – This is an extreme view by an uninspired pen. R1521:1
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| 16 She considereth a field, and procureth it, Out of the fruit of her hands, she planteth a vineyard: |
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| 17 She girdeth, with strength her loins, and putteth vigour into her arms: |
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| 18 She tasteth, whether, good, be her merchandise, and her lamp, goeth not out by night: |
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| 19 Her hands, she putteth forth to the distaff, and, her palms, lay hold of the spindle: |
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| 20 Her palm, she spreadeth out to the oppressed, and, her hands, she extendeth to the needy: |
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| 21 She feareth not, for her household, because of the snow, for, all her household, are clothed with crimson: |
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| 22 Coverlets, she maketh for herself, Of white linen and of purple, is her clothing: |
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| 23 Known in the gates, is her husband, when he sitteth, with the elders of the land: |
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| 24 Fine linen wraps, she maketh and selleth, and, girdles, doth she deliver to the trader: |
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| 25 Strength and dignity, are her clothing, and she laugheth at the time to come: |
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| 26 Her mouth, she openeth with wisdom, and, the instruction of kindness, is on her tongue: |
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| 27 She looketh well to the goings of her household, and, the bread of idleness, will she not eat. |
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| 28 Her children rise up, and call her happy! her husband, and he praiseth her:– |
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| 29 Many daughters, have done virtuously, but, thou, excellest them all! |
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| 30 Deceitful is loveliness and vain is beauty, The woman that revereth Yahweh, she, shall be praised: |
Vain – A breath. R1520:3
Feareth – Reverenceth. R1520:3
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| 31 Give her of the fruit of her own hands, and let her own works, praise her in the gates. |
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