Proverbs 31

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

Words of Lemuel, a king, a declaration that his mother taught him:

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

“What, my son? And what, son of my womb? And what, son of my vows?

3 Give not thy strength unto women, nor thy ways to them that destroy kings.

Do not give your strength to women, And your ways to wiping away of kings.

4 It is not for kings, Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine, nor for rulers [to say], Where is the strong drink?

[It is] not for kings, O Lemuel, Not for kings, to drink wine, And for princes—a desire of strong drink.

5 — lest they drink and forget the law, and pervert the judgment of any of the children of affliction.

Lest he drink, and forget the decree, And change the judgment of any of the sons of affliction.

6 Give strong drink unto him that is ready to perish, and wine unto the bitter of soul:

Give strong drink to the perishing, And wine to the bitter in soul,

7 let him drink, and forget his poverty, and remember his misery no more.

He drinks, and forgets his poverty, And he does not remember his misery again.

8 Open thy mouth for the dumb, for the cause of all those that are left desolate.

Open your mouth for the mute, For the right of all sons of change.

9 Open thy mouth, judge righteously, and minister justice to the afflicted and needy.

Open your mouth, judge righteously, Both the cause of the poor and needy!”

10 Who can find a woman of worth? for her price is far above rubies.

[ALEPH-BET] A woman of worth who finds? Indeed, her price [is] far above rubies.

11 The heart of her husband confideth in her, and he shall have no lack of spoil.

The heart of her husband has trusted in her, And he does not lack spoil.

12 She doeth him good, and not evil, all the days of her life.

She has done him good, and not evil, All [the] days of her life.

13 She seeketh wool and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands.

She has sought wool and flax, And with delight she works [with] her hands.

14 She is like the merchants' ships: she bringeth her food from afar;

She has been as ships of the merchant, She brings in her bread from afar.

15 And she riseth while it is yet night, and giveth meat to her household, and the day's work to her maidens.

Indeed, she rises while yet night, And gives food to her household, And a portion to her girls.

16 She considereth a field, and acquireth it; of the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard.

She has considered a field, and takes it, She has planted a vineyard from the fruit of her hands.

17 She girdeth her loins with strength, and maketh strong her arms.

She has girded her loins with might, And strengthens her arms.

18 She perceiveth that her earning is good; her lamp goeth not out by night.

She has perceived when her merchandise [is] good, Her lamp is not extinguished in the night.

19 She putteth her hands to the distaff, and her hands hold the spindle.

She has sent forth her hands on a spindle, And her hands have held a distaff.

20 She stretcheth out her hand to the afflicted, and she reacheth forth her hands to the needy.

She has spread forth her hand to the poor, Indeed, she sent forth her hands to the needy.

21 She is not afraid of the snow for her household; for all her household are clothed with scarlet.

She is not afraid of her household from snow, For all her household are clothed [with] scarlet.

22 She maketh herself coverlets; her clothing is byssus and purple.

She has made ornamental coverings for herself, Silk and purple [are] her clothing.

23 Her husband is known in the gates, when he sitteth among the elders of the land.

Her husband is known in the gates, In his sitting with [the] elderly of [the] land.

24 She maketh body linen and selleth it, and delivereth girdles unto the merchant.

She has made linen garments, and sells, And she has given a girdle to the merchant.

25 Strength and dignity are her clothing, and she laugheth [at] the coming day.

Strength and honor [are] her clothing, And she rejoices at a latter day.

26 She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and upon her tongue is the law of kindness.

She has opened her mouth in wisdom, And the law of kindness [is] on her tongue.

27 She surveyeth the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness.

She [is] watching the ways of her household, And she does not eat bread of sloth.

28 Her children rise up and call her blessed; her husband [also], and he praiseth her:

Her sons have risen up, and pronounce her blessed, Her husband, and he praises her,

29 Many daughters have done worthily, but thou excellest them all.

“The daughters who have done worthily [are] many, You have gone up above them all.”

30 Gracefulness is deceitful and beauty is vain; a woman [that] feareth Jehovah, she shall be praised.

Favor [is] deceitful, and beauty [is] vain, A woman fearing YHWH, she may boast herself.

31 Give her of the fruit of her hands, and let her own works praise her in the gates.

Give to her of the fruit of her hands, And her works praise her in the gates!