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Proverbs 31:4-9

 

משלי לא:ד-ט

Original Text:

אַל לַמְלָכִים לְמוֹאֵל אַל לַמְלָכִים שְׁתוֹ יָיִן וּלְרוֹזְנִים או אֵי שֵׁכָר:
פֶּן יִשְׁתֶּה וְיִשְׁכַּח מְחֻקָּק וִישַׁנֶּה דִּין כָּל בְּנֵי עֹנִי:
תְּנוּ שֵׁכָר לְאוֹבֵד וְיַיִן לְמָרֵי נָפֶש
יִשְׁתֶּה וְיִשְׁכַּח רִישׁוֹ וַעֲמָלוֹ לֹא יִזְכָּר עוֹד
פְּתַח פִּיךָ לְאִלֵּם אֶל דִּין כָּל בְּנֵי חֲלוֹף:
פְּתַח פִּיךָ שְׁפָט צֶדֶק וְדִין עָנִי וְאֶבְיוֹן:

Translation:

Wine is not for kings, O Lemuel; Not for kings to drink, Nor any strong drink for princes, Lest they drink and forget what has been ordained, and infringe on the rights of the poor. Give strong drink to the hapless and wine to the embittered. Let them drink and forget their poverty, and put their troubles out of mind. Speak up for the dumb, for the rights of all the unfortunate. Speak up, judge righteously, champion the poor and the needy.
[JPS translation]

Suggested Discussion Questions:

1. Why can't people in power drink wine?
2. Why do the poor want to forget their poverty?
3. In what way do our leaders today come to forget the poor?

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Related Texts:
Proverbs 31:4-9
Related Sourcesheets:Texts on Social Change v. Social Action, Top Ten List of Best Economic Justice Jewish Texts (AJWS), Some texts on poverty

Submitted By

Sarah Margles

Comments on this Text

This text seems to equate poverty with misery. Is this a fair assumption?