Proverbs 31
1 The words of king Lamuel. The vision wherewith his mother instructed him.
Words of Lemuel, a king, a declaration that his mother taught him:
2 What, O my beloved, what, O the beloved of my womb, what, O the beloved of my vows?
“What, my son? And what, son of my womb? And what, son of my vows?
3 Give not thy substance to women, and thy riches to destroy kings.
Do not give your strength to women, And your ways to wiping away of kings.
4 Give not to kings, O Lamuel, give not wine to kings: because there is no secret where drunkenness reigneth:
[It is] not for kings, O Lemuel, Not for kings, to drink wine, And for princes—a desire of strong drink.
5 And lest they drink and forget judgments, and pervert the cause of the children of the poor.
Lest he drink, and forget the decree, And change the judgment of any of the sons of affliction.
6 Give strong drink to them that are sad: and wine to them that are grieved in mind:
Give strong drink to the perishing, And wine to the bitter in soul,
7 Let them drink, and forget their want, and remember their sorrow no more.
He drinks, and forgets his poverty, And he does not remember his misery again.
8 Open thy mouth for the dumb, and for the causes of all the children that pass.
Open your mouth for the mute, For the right of all sons of change.
9 Open thy mouth, decree that which is just, and do justice to the needy and poor.
Open your mouth, judge righteously, Both the cause of the poor and needy!”
10 Who shall find a valiant woman? far and from the uttermost coasts is the price of her.
[ALEPH-BET] A woman of worth who finds? Indeed, her price [is] far above rubies.
11 The heart of her husband trusteth in her, and he shall have no need of spoils.
The heart of her husband has trusted in her, And he does not lack spoil.
12 She will render him good, and not evil, all the days of her life.
She has done him good, and not evil, All [the] days of her life.
13 She hath sought wool and flax, and hath wrought by the counsel of her hands.
She has sought wool and flax, And with delight she works [with] her hands.
14 She is like the merchant’s ship, she bringeth her bread from afar.
She has been as ships of the merchant, She brings in her bread from afar.
15 And she hath risen in the night, and given a prey to her household, and victuals to her maidens.
Indeed, she rises while yet night, And gives food to her household, And a portion to her girls.
16 She hath considered a field, and bought it: with the fruit of her hands she hath planted a vineyard.
She has considered a field, and takes it, She has planted a vineyard from the fruit of her hands.
17 She hath girded her loins with strength, and hath strengthened her arm.
She has girded her loins with might, And strengthens her arms.
18 She hath tasted and seen that her traffic is good: her lamp shall not be put out in the night.
She has perceived when her merchandise [is] good, Her lamp is not extinguished in the night.
19 She hath put out her hand to strong things, and her fingers have taken hold of the spindle.
She has sent forth her hands on a spindle, And her hands have held a distaff.
20 She hath opened her hand to the needy, and stretched out her hands to the poor.
She has spread forth her hand to the poor, Indeed, she sent forth her hands to the needy.
21 She shall not fear for her house in the cold of snow: for all her domestics are clothed with double garments.
She is not afraid of her household from snow, For all her household are clothed [with] scarlet.
22 She hath made for herself clothing of tapestry: fine linen, and purple is her covering.
She has made ornamental coverings for herself, Silk and purple [are] her clothing.
23 Her husband is honourable in the gates, when he sitteth among the senators of the land.
Her husband is known in the gates, In his sitting with [the] elderly of [the] land.
24 She made fine linen, and sold it, and delivered a girdle to the Chanaanite.
She has made linen garments, and sells, And she has given a girdle to the merchant.
25 Strength and beauty are her clothing, and she shall laugh in the latter day.
Strength and honor [are] her clothing, And she rejoices at a latter day.
26 She hath opened her mouth to wisdom, and the law of clemency is on her tongue.
She has opened her mouth in wisdom, And the law of kindness [is] on her tongue.
27 She hath looked well to the paths of her house, and hath not eaten her bread idle.
She [is] watching the ways of her household, And she does not eat bread of sloth.
28 Her children rose up, and called her blessed: her husband, and he praised her.
Her sons have risen up, and pronounce her blessed, Her husband, and he praises her,
29 Many daughters have gathered together riches: thou hast surpassed them all.
“The daughters who have done worthily [are] many, You have gone up above them all.”
30 Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: the woman that feareth the Lord, she shall be praised.
Favor [is] deceitful, and beauty [is] vain, A woman fearing YHWH, she may boast herself.
31 Give her of the fruit of her hands: and let her works praise her in the gates.
Give to her of the fruit of her hands, And her works praise her in the gates!
