Proverbs 31
1 These are sayings/messages that [God gave to] King Lemuel’s mother, and which his mother taught him:
The words of Lemuel, king of Massa: the teaching which he had from his mother.
2 You are my son; I gave birth to you [RHQ]; you are the son that [God gave me] in answer to my prayers.
What am I to say to you, O Lemuel, my oldest son? and what, O son of my body? and what, O son of my oaths?
3 Do not exhaust your energy [having sex] [EUP] with women [to whom you are not married], with women who ruin kings [by having sex with them].
Do not give your strength to women, or your ways to that which is the destruction of kings.
4 Lemuel, kings should not be [constantly] drinking wine or [greatly] desire [to drink other] strong/alcoholic drinks.
It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to take wine, or for rulers to say, Where is strong drink?
5 If they do that, they forget the laws [that they have made], and they do not do what is right for poor/afflicted [people].
For fear that through drinking they may come to have no respect for the law, wrongly judging the cause of those who are in trouble.
6 Give strong/alcoholic drinks to those who are dying and to those who are (greatly distressed/suffering very much).
Give strong drink to him who is near to destruction, and wine to him whose soul is bitter:
7 If they drink, they will forget that they are poor, and they will not think about their distress/troubles any more.
Let him have drink, and his need will go from his mind, and the memory of his trouble will be gone.
8 Speak [MTY] to defend people who are unable to defend themselves; speak to encourage others to do what is right for those who are helpless.
Let your mouth be open for those who have no voice, in the cause of those who are ready for death.
9 Speak [MTY] (on their behalf/to help them) and try to cause judges to decide matters fairly/justly; try to cause others to do for poor and needy [people] what should be done for them.
Let your mouth be open, judging rightly, and give right decisions in the cause of the poor and those in need.
10 It is very difficult [for a man] to [RHQ] find a wife who is good and who is capable [of doing many things]. [Any woman who is like that] is worth more than jewels.
Who may make discovery of a woman of virtue? For her price is much higher than jewels.
11 Her husband completely trusts her, and [because of her], he has everything that he needs [LIT].
The heart of her husband has faith in her, and he will have profit in full measure.
12 She never does anything that would harm him; she does good things for him all the days of her life.
She does him good and not evil all the days of her life.
13 She finds wool and flax [in the market], and she enjoys spinning it [to make yarn].
She gets wool and linen, working at the business of her hands.
14 She is like [SIM] a ship that brings from far away goods/merchandise to sell, [because] she buys food that comes from far away.
She is like the trading-ships, getting food from far away.
15 She gets up before dawn to prepare food for her family. [Then] she plans the work that her servant girls will do on that day.
She gets up while it is still night, and gives meat to her family, and their food to her servant-girls.
16 She [goes out and] looks at a field [that someone wants to sell]; and [if it is a good field], she buys it. She [buys] grapevines [MTY] with the money that she has earned, [and then] she plants them.
After looking at a field with care, she gets it for a price, planting a vine-garden with the profit of her work.
17 She works very hard [IDM]; she makes her arms strong [by the work she does].
She puts a band of strength round her, and makes her arms strong.
18 She knows when she is getting a good profit from her business. [When it is necessary], she works [MTY] until it is late at night.
She sees that her marketing is of profit to her: her light does not go out by night.
19 She holds the (spindle/rod which twists the thread that she is making), and [then] she spins the thread [MTY] [that she will use].
She puts her hands to the cloth-working rod, and her fingers take the wheel.
20 She generously helps [MTY] those who are poor and needy [DOU].
Her hands are stretched out to the poor; yes, she is open-handed to those who are in need.
21 She is not worried that [the people in her house will be cold in] the winter, because [she has made] warm clothes for all of them.
She has no fear of the snow for her family, for all those in her house are clothed in red.
22 She makes bedspreads/quilts for the beds. She wears fine linen clothes that are dyed purple, [like queens wear].
She makes for herself cushions of needlework; her clothing is fair linen and purple.
23 Her husband is [well] known by the important people of the town; he sits with the [other] town leaders in the meetings of the town council.
Her husband is a man of note in the public place, when he takes his seat among the responsible men of the land.
24 She makes clothes from linen cloth and sells them. She sells sashes to shop owners.
She makes linen robes and gets a price for them, and traders take her cloth bands for a price.
25 She is strong in her character and respected/dignified, and she (laughs at/is not afraid of) [what will happen in] the future.
Strength and self-respect are her clothing; she is facing the future with a smile.
26 When she speaks, she says what is wise. When she gives instructions, she speaks [MTY] kindly (OR, faithfully).
Her mouth is open to give out wisdom, and the law of mercy is on her tongue.
27 She watches over everything that is done in her household, and she [IDM] is never lazy.
She gives attention to the ways of her family, she does not take her food without working for it.
28 Her children all together speak highly of her, and her husband also praises her.
Her children get up and give her honour, and her husband gives her praise, saying,
29 [He says to her], “There are many women who do admirable things, but you surpass them all!”
Unnumbered women have done well, but you are better than all of them.
30 Some women who are attractive [are not really good women], [but] they can deceive us [regarding what they are really like]. Furthermore, women’s beauty does not last; but women who revere Yahweh should be honored.
Fair looks are a deceit, and a beautiful form is of no value; but a woman who has the fear of the Lord is to be praised.
31 Reward women who are like that, and praise them in public [MTY] for what they have done.
Give her credit for what her hands have made: let her be praised by her works in the public place.
