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

Listen, my son! Listen, son of my womb!
    Listen, my son, the answer to my prayers!
Do not spend your strength on women,
    your vigor on those who ruin kings.

It is not for kings, Lemuel—
    it is not for kings to drink wine,
    not for rulers to crave beer,
lest they drink and forget what has been decreed,
    and deprive all the oppressed of their rights.
Let beer be for those who are perishing,
    wine for those who are in anguish!
Let them drink and forget their poverty
    and remember their misery no more.

Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves,
    for the rights of all who are destitute.
Speak up and judge fairly;
    defend the rights of the poor and needy.

Proverbs 31:1-9

The power that we have in our hands is not for us as the ones who can wield it for our own ends, but for those who we know do not have that same power. What is a voice to one who is always heard? But to the voiceless, one word is everything. What is another day’s wage to the rich? But to the poor, even an hour’s earnings can save them. What is a fair judgement to those who have friends? But to the stranger, to the outcast, the support of one person is life itself.

Exercise the wisdom to understand what power you have, and then pray to God to show you the need he plans for you to meet.

Ethan Kirl