Proverbs 31

1 These are sayings/messages that [God gave to] King Lemuel’s mother, and which his mother taught him:

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

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, my son? and what, the son of my womb? and what, the son of my vows?

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].

Give not thy strength unto women, nor thy ways to that which destroyeth 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 drink wine; nor for princes 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].

Lest they drink, and forget the law, and pervert the judgment of any of the afflicted.

6 Give strong/alcoholic drinks to those who are dying and to those who are (greatly distressed/suffering very much).

Give strong drink unto him that is ready to perish, and wine unto those that be of heavy hearts.

7 If they drink, they will forget that they are poor, and they will not think about their distress/troubles any more.

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

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.

Open thy mouth for the dumb in the cause of all such as are appointed to destruction.

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.

Open thy mouth, judge righteously, and plead the cause of the poor and needy.

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 can find a virtuous woman? for her price [is] far above rubies.

11 Her husband completely trusts her, and [because of her], he has everything that he needs [LIT].

The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil.

12 She never does anything that would harm him; she does good things for him all the days of her life.

She will do 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 seeketh wool, and flax, and worketh willingly with 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 merchants’ ships; she bringeth her food from afar.

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 riseth also while it is yet night, and giveth meat to her household, and a portion to her maidens.

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.

She considereth a field, and buyeth it: with the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard.

17 She works very hard [IDM]; she makes her arms strong [by the work she does].

She girdeth her loins with strength, and strengtheneth her arms.

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 perceiveth that her merchandise [is] good: her candle goeth not 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 layeth her hands to the spindle, and her hands hold the distaff.

20 She generously helps [MTY] those who are poor and needy [DOU].

She stretcheth out her hand to the poor; yea, she reacheth forth her hands to the needy.

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 is not afraid of the snow for her household: for all her household [are] clothed with scarlet.

22 She makes bedspreads/quilts for the beds. She wears fine linen clothes that are dyed purple, [like queens wear].

She maketh herself coverings of tapestry; her clothing [is] silk 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 known in the gates, when he sitteth among the elders of the land.

24 She makes clothes from linen cloth and sells them. She sells sashes to shop owners.

She maketh fine linen, and selleth [it; ] and delivereth girdles unto the merchant.

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 honour [are] her clothing; and she shall rejoice in time to come.

26 When she speaks, she says what is wise. When she gives instructions, she speaks [MTY] kindly (OR, faithfully).

She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue [is] the law of kindness.

27 She watches over everything that is done in her household, and she [IDM] is never lazy.

She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness.

28 Her children all together speak highly of her, and her husband also praises her.

Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband [also], and he praiseth her.

29 [He says to her], “There are many women who do admirable things, but you surpass them all!”

Many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all.

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.

Favour [is] deceitful, and beauty [is] vain: [but] a woman [that] feareth the LORD, she shall be praised.

31 Reward women who are like that, and praise them in public [MTY] for what they have done.

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