One Year Chronological Bible Sampler - Flipbook - Page 17
JULY 3
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There are three things that make the earth tremble—
no, four it cannot endure:
a slave who becomes a king,
an overbearing fool who prospers,
a bitter woman who finally gets a husband,
a servant girl who supplants her mistress.
There are four things on earth that are small but unusually wise:
Ants—they aren’t strong,
but they store up food all summer.
Hyraxes*—they aren’t powerful,
but they make their homes among the rocks.
Locusts—they have no king,
but they march in formation.
Lizards—they are easy to catch,
but they are found even in kings’ palaces.
There are three things that walk with stately stride—
no, four that strut about:
the lion, king of animals, who won’t turn aside for anything,
the strutting rooster,
the male goat,
a king as he leads his army.
32
If you have been a fool by being proud or plotting evil,
cover your mouth in shame.
33
As the beating of cream yields butter
and striking the nose causes bleeding,
so stirring up anger causes quarrels.
The Sayings of King Lemuel / Proverbs 31:1-9
The sayings of King Lemuel contain this message,* which his mother taught
him.
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8
O my son, O son of my womb,
O son of my vows,
do not waste your strength on women,
on those who ruin kings.
It is not for kings, O Lemuel, to guzzle wine.
Rulers should not crave alcohol.
For if they drink, they may forget the law
and not give justice to the oppressed.
Alcohol is for the dying,
and wine for those in bitter distress.
Let them drink to forget their poverty
and remember their troubles no more.
Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves;
ensure justice for those being crushed.
30:26 Or Coneys, or Rock badgers.
31:1 Or of Lemuel, king of Massa; or of King Lemuel, an oracle.
