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 revelation which 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.
“Oh, my son! Oh, son of my womb! Oh, 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].
Don’t give your strength to women, nor your ways to that which destroys kings.
4 Lemuel, kings should not be [constantly] drinking wine or [greatly] desire [to drink other] strong/alcoholic drinks.
It is not for kings, Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine, nor for princes 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].
lest they drink, and forget the decree, and pervert the justice due to anyone who is afflicted.
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 ready to perish, and wine to the bitter in soul.
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 your mouth for the mute, in the cause of all who are left desolate.
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 your mouth, judge righteously, and serve justice to 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 worthy woman? For her value 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 trusts in her. He shall have no lack of gain.
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 harm, all the days of her life.
13 She finds wool and flax [in the market], and she enjoys spinning it [to make yarn].
She seeks wool and flax, and works eagerly 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 merchant ships. She brings her bread 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 rises also while it is yet night, gives food to her household, and portions for 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.
She considers a field, and buys it. With the fruit of her hands, she plants a vineyard.
17 She works very hard [IDM]; she makes her arms strong [by the work she does].
She arms her waist with strength, 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 perceives that her merchandise is profitable. Her lamp doesn’t 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 lays her hands to the distaff, and her hands hold the spindle.
20 She generously helps [MTY] those who are poor and needy [DOU].
She opens her arms to the poor; yes, she extends 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 makes for herself carpets of tapestry. Her clothing is fine 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 respected in the gates, when he sits amongst the elders of the land.
24 She makes clothes from linen cloth and sells them. She sells sashes to shop owners.
She makes linen garments and sells them, and delivers sashes to 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 dignity are her clothing. She laughs at the time to come.
26 When she speaks, she says what is wise. When she gives instructions, she speaks [MTY] kindly (OR, faithfully).
She opens her mouth with wisdom. Kind instruction is on her tongue.
27 She watches over everything that is done in her household, and she [IDM] is never lazy.
She looks well to the ways of her household, and doesn’t eat the bread of idleness.
28 Her children all together speak highly of her, and her husband also praises her.
Her children rise up and call her blessed. Her husband also praises her:
29 [He says to her], “There are many women who do admirable things, but you surpass them all!”
“Many women do noble things, but you excel 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.
Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain; but a woman who fears 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! Let her works praise her in the gates!
