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, the son of my womb? and what, the son of my vows?
“What, my son? And what, son of my womb? And what, son of my vows?
3 Give not your strength unto women, nor your ways to that which destroys kings.
Do not give your strength to women, And your ways to wiping away of kings.
4 It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine; nor for princes 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 afflicted.
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 those that be of heavy hearts.
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 your mouth for the dumb in the cause of all such as are appointed to destruction.
Open your mouth for the mute, For the right of all sons of change.
9 Open your mouth, judge righteously, and plead the cause of the poor and needy.
Open your mouth, judge righteously, Both the cause of the poor and needy!”
10 Who can find a virtuous woman? 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 does safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil.
The heart of her husband has trusted in her, And he does not lack spoil.
12 She will do 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 seeks wool, and flax, and works 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 brings her food from far.
She has been as ships of the merchant, She brings in her bread from afar.
15 She rises also while it is yet night, and gives food to her household, and a portion to her maidens.
Indeed, she rises while yet night, And gives food to her household, And a portion to her girls.
16 She considers a field, and buys it: with the fruit of her hands she plants a vineyard.
She has considered a field, and takes it, She has planted a vineyard from the fruit of her hands.
17 She girds her loins with strength, and strengthens her arms.
She has girded her loins with might, And strengthens her arms.
18 She perceives that her merchandise is good: her candle goes not out by night.
She has perceived when her merchandise [is] good, Her lamp is not extinguished in the night.
19 She lays her hands to the spindle, and her hands hold the distaff.
She has sent forth her hands on a spindle, And her hands have held a distaff.
20 She stretches out her hand to the poor; yea, she reachs 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 makes herself coverings of tapestry; her clothing is silk 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 sits among the elders of the land.
Her husband is known in the gates, In his sitting with [the] elderly of [the] land.
24 She makes fine linen, and sells it; and delivers girdles unto the merchant.
She has made linen garments, and sells, And she has given a girdle to the merchant.
25 Strength and honour are her clothing; and she shall rejoice in time to come.
Strength and honor [are] her clothing, And she rejoices at a latter day.
26 She opens her mouth with wisdom; and in 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 looks well to the ways of her household, and eats not the bread of idleness.
She [is] watching the ways of her household, And she does not eat bread of sloth.
28 Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her.
Her sons have risen up, and pronounce her blessed, Her husband, and he praises her,
29 Many daughters have done virtuously, but you excel them all.
“The daughters who have done worthily [are] many, You have gone up above them all.”
30 Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that fears the LORD, 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!
