1 The sayings of King Lemuel—an inspired utterance his mother taught him.

2 Listen, my son! Listen, son of my womb!

Listen, my son, the answer to my prayers!

3 Do not spend your strength on women,

your vigor on those who ruin kings.

1 The words of king Lemuel, the prophecy that his mother taught him.

2 What, my son? and what, the son of my womb?

And what, the son of my vows?

3 Give not thy strength unto women,

Nor thy ways to that which destroyeth kings.

1 The sayings of King Lemuel contain this message, which his mother taught him.

2 O my son, O son of my womb,

O son of my vows,

3 do not waste your strength on women,

on those who ruin kings.

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

2 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.

1 These are the words of King Lemuel, the message his mother taught him:

2 “My son, I gave birth to you.

You are the son I prayed for.

3 Don’t waste your strength on women

or your time on those who ruin kings.

1 The words of king Lemuel; the oracle which his mother taught him.

2 What, my son? and what, O son of my womb?

And what, O son of my vows?

3 Give not thy strength unto women,

Nor thy ways to that which destroyeth kings.

1 The words of king Lemuel, the prophecy that his mother taught him: 2 What, my son? and what, O son of my womb? and what, O son of my vows? 3 Give not thy strength unto women, nor thy ways to them that destroy kings.

1 The sayings of King Lemuel, a prophetic revelation, 

used by his mother to discipline him. 

2 “What, my son? 

What, son to whom I gave birth? 

What, son of my prayers? 

3 Don’t give your strength to women 

or your power to those who ruin kings. 

1 The words of King Lemuel,

an oracle that his mother taught him:

2 What should I say, my son?

What, son of my womb?

What, son of my vows?

3 Don’t spend your energy on women

or your efforts on those who destroy kings.

1 The words of King Lemuel. An oracle that his mother taught him:

2 No, my son! No, son of my womb!

No, son of my vows!

3 Do not give your strength to women,

your ways to those who destroy kings.

1 The words of Lemuel, the king—an oracle

that his mother taught him:

2 What, my son? And what, my son in my womb?

And what, son of my vows?

3 Do not give your strength to the women,

and your ways to destroy kings.

1 These are the sayings of King Lemuel. His mother taught them to him. She spoke them as if they came from God.

2 She said, “My son! My very own son!

The son I prayed for!

3 Don’t waste your strength on women.

Don’t waste it on those who destroy kings.

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

2 What, O my son?

And what, O son of my womb?

And what, O son of my vows?

3 Do not give your strength to women,

Or your ways to that which destroys kings.