Proverbs 31
1 My words have been spoken by God—the oracular answer of a king, whom his mother instructed.
Words of Lemuel, a king, a declaration that his mother taught him:
2 What wilt thou keep, my son, what? the words of God. My firstborn son, I speak to thee: what? son of my womb? what? son of my vows?
“What, my son? And what, son of my womb? And what, son of my vows?
3 Give not thy wealth to women, nor thy mind and living to remorse. Do all things with counsel: drink wine with counsel.
Do not give your strength to women, And your ways to wiping away of kings.
4 Princes are prone to anger: let them then not drink wine:
[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 wisdom, and be not able to judge the poor rightly.
Lest he drink, and forget the decree, And change the judgment of any of the sons of affliction.
6 Give strong drink to those that are in sorrow, and the wine to drink to those in pain:
Give strong drink to the perishing, And wine to the bitter in soul,
7 that they may forget their poverty, and may not remember their troubles any more.
He drinks, and forgets his poverty, And he does not remember his misery again.
8 Open thy mouth with the word of God, and judge all fairly.
Open your mouth for the mute, For the right of all sons of change.
9 Open thy mouth and judge justly, and plead the cause of the poor and weak.
Open your mouth, judge righteously, Both the cause of the poor and needy!”
10 Who shall find a virtuous woman? for such a one is more valuable than precious stones.
[ALEPH-BET] A woman of worth who finds? Indeed, her price [is] far above rubies.
11 The heart of her husband trusts in her: such a one shall stand in no need of fine spoils.
The heart of her husband has trusted in her, And he does not lack spoil.
12 For she employs all her living for her husband's good.
She has done him good, and not evil, All [the] days of her life.
13 Gathering wool and flax, she makes it serviceable with her hands.
She has sought wool and flax, And with delight she works [with] her hands.
14 She is like a ship trading from a distance: so she procures her livelihood.
She has been as ships of the merchant, She brings in her bread from afar.
15 And she rises by night, and gives food to her household, and [appointed] tasks to her maidens.
Indeed, she rises while yet night, And gives food to her household, And a portion to her girls.
16 She views a farm, and buys it: and with the fruit of her hands she plants and a possession.
She has considered a field, and takes it, She has planted a vineyard from the fruit of her hands.
17 She strongly girds her loins, and strengthens her arms for work.
She has girded her loins with might, And strengthens her arms.
18 And she finds by experience that working is good; and her candle goes not out all night.
She has perceived when her merchandise [is] good, Her lamp is not extinguished in the night.
19 She reaches forth her arms to needful [works], and applies her hands to the spindle.
She has sent forth her hands on a spindle, And her hands have held a distaff.
20 And she opens her hands to the needy, and reaches out fruit to the poor.
She has spread forth her hand to the poor, Indeed, she sent forth her hands to the needy.
21 Her husband is not anxious about those at home when he tarries anywhere abroad: for all her household are clothed.
She is not afraid of her household from snow, For all her household are clothed [with] scarlet.
22 She makes for her husband clothes of double texture, and garments for herself of fine linen and scarlet.
She has made ornamental coverings for herself, Silk and purple [are] her clothing.
23 And her husband becomes a distinguished [person] in the gates, when he sits in council with the old inhabitants of the land.
Her husband is known in the gates, In his sitting with [the] elderly of [the] land.
24 She makes fine linens, and sells girdles to the Chananites: she opens her mouth heedfully and with propriety, and controls her tongue.
She has made linen garments, and sells, And she has given a girdle to the merchant.
25 She puts on strength and honour; and rejoices in the last days.
Strength and honor [are] her clothing, And she rejoices at a latter day.
26 But she opens her mouth wisely, and according to law.
She has opened her mouth in wisdom, And the law of kindness [is] on her tongue.
27 The ways of her household are careful, and she eats not the bread of idleness.
She [is] watching the ways of her household, And she does not eat bread of sloth.
28 And [her] kindness to them sets up her children for them, and they grow rich, and her husband praises her.
Her sons have risen up, and pronounce her blessed, Her husband, and he praises her,
29 Many daughters have obtained wealth, many have wrought valiantly; but thou hast exceeded, thou hast surpassed all.
“The daughters who have done worthily [are] many, You have gone up above them all.”
30 Charms are false, and woman's beauty is vain: for it is a wise woman that is blessed, and let her praise the fear the Lord.
Favor [is] deceitful, and beauty [is] vain, A woman fearing YHWH, she may boast herself.
31 Give her of the fruit of her lips; and let her husband be praised in the gates.
Give to her of the fruit of her hands, And her works praise her in the gates!
