Proverbs 31
1 These are the words of King Lemuel—the burden that his mother taught him:
Words of Lemuel, a king, a declaration that his mother taught him:
2 What shall I say, O my son? What, O son of my womb? What, O son of my vows?
“What, my son? And what, son of my womb? And what, son of my vows?
3 Do not spend your strength on women or your vigor on those who ruin 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, or for rulers to crave 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 what is decreed, depriving all the oppressed of justice.
Lest he drink, and forget the decree, And change the judgment of any of the sons of affliction.
6 Give strong drink to one who is perishing, and wine to the bitter in 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 your mouth for those with no voice, for the cause of all the dispossessed.
Open your mouth for the mute, For the right of all sons of change.
9 Open your mouth, judge righteously, and defend the cause of the poor and needy.
Open your mouth, judge righteously, Both the cause of the poor and needy!”
10 A wife of noble character, who can find? She is far more precious than rubies.
[ALEPH-BET] A woman of worth who finds? Indeed, her price [is] far above rubies.
11 The heart of her husband trusts in her, and he lacks nothing of value.
The heart of her husband has trusted in her, And he does not lack spoil.
12 She brings him good and not harm all the days of her life.
She has done him good, and not evil, All [the] days of her life.
13 She selects wool and flax and works with eager hands.
She has sought wool and flax, And with delight she works [with] her hands.
14 She is like the merchant ships, bringing her food from afar.
She has been as ships of the merchant, She brings in her bread from afar.
15 She rises while it is still night to provide food for her household and portions for her maidservants.
Indeed, she rises while yet night, And gives food to her household, And a portion to her girls.
16 She appraises a field and buys it; from her earnings 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 herself with strength and shows that her arms are strong.
She has girded her loins with might, And strengthens her arms.
18 She sees that her gain is good, and her lamp is not extinguished at night.
She has perceived when her merchandise [is] good, Her lamp is not extinguished in the night.
19 She stretches out her hands to the distaff and grasps the spindle with her fingers.
She has sent forth her hands on a spindle, And her hands have held a distaff.
20 She opens her arms to the poor and reaches out her hands to the needy.
She has spread forth her hand to the poor, Indeed, she sent forth her hands to the needy.
21 When it snows, she has no fear for her household, for they are all clothed in scarlet.
She is not afraid of her household from snow, For all her household are clothed [with] scarlet.
22 She makes coverings for her bed; her clothing is fine linen and purple.
She has made ornamental coverings for herself, Silk and purple [are] her clothing.
23 Her husband is known at the city gate, where 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 linen garments and sells them; she delivers sashes to the merchants.
She has made linen garments, and sells, And she has given a girdle to the merchant.
25 Strength and honor are her clothing, and she can laugh at the days to come.
Strength and honor [are] her clothing, And she rejoices at a latter day.
26 She opens her mouth with wisdom, and faithful instruction is on her tongue.
She has opened her mouth in wisdom, And the law of kindness [is] on her tongue.
27 She watches over the affairs of her household and does not eat 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 praises her as well:
Her sons have risen up, and pronounce her blessed, Her husband, and he praises her,
29 “Many daughters have done noble things, but you surpass them all!”
“The daughters who have done worthily [are] many, You have gone up above them all.”
30 Charm is deceptive and beauty is fleeting, but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.
Favor [is] deceitful, and beauty [is] vain, A woman fearing YHWH, she may boast herself.
31 Give her the fruit of her hands, and let her works praise her at the gates.
Give to her of the fruit of her hands, And her works praise her in the gates!
