Proverbs 31
1 These are the words of King Lemuel, an oracle, taught to him by his mother.
Words of Lemuel a king, a declaration that his mother taught him:
2 What shall I tell you, my son?—the son I gave birth to, the son given in response to my vows.
'What, my son? and what, son of my womb? And what, son of my vows?
3 Don't waste your strength sleeping with women, those that bring down kings.
Give not to women thy strength, And thy ways to wiping away of kings.
4 Lemuel, kings shouldn't be drinking wine, rulers shouldn't be drinking alcohol.
Not for kings, O Lemuel, Not for kings, to drink wine, And for princes a desire of strong drink.
5 For if they drink, they'll forget what the law says, and pervert the rights of those who are suffering.
Lest he drink, and forget the decree, And change the judgment of any of the sons of affliction.
6 Give alcohol to those who are dying, and wine to those who are in terrible distress.
Give strong drink to the perishing, And wine to the bitter in soul,
7 Let them drink so they can forget their poverty, and not remember their troubles any longer.
He drinketh, and forgetteth his poverty, And his misery he remembereth not again.
8 Speak up for those who have no voice, for the rights of those marginalized by society.
Open thy mouth for the dumb, For the right of all sons of change.
9 Speak up and judge fairly; defend the poor and destitute.
Open thy mouth, judge righteously, Both the cause of the poor and needy!'
10 Who can find a strong, capable wife? She's worth more than jewels!
A woman of worth who doth find? Yea, far above rubies [is] her price.
11 Her husband has complete confidence in her, and with her he'll never be poor.
The heart of her husband hath trusted in her, And spoil he lacketh not.
12 She brings him good, not evil, all her life.
She hath done him good, and not evil, All days of her life.
13 She gets wool and flax, and with her eager hands turns them into clothes.
She hath sought wool and flax, And with delight she worketh [with] her hands.
14 Like a merchant's ship, she brings food from far away.
She hath been as ships of the merchant, From afar she bringeth in her bread.
15 She gets up while it's still dark to make breakfast for her family, and to plan what her servant girls need to do.
Yea, she riseth while yet night, And giveth food to her household, And a portion to her damsels.
16 She looks at a field, and decides to buy it; from the money she's earned she buys a vineyard.
She hath considered a field, and taketh it, From the fruit of her hands she hath planted a vineyard.
17 She's keen to get ready, and works hard with her strong arms.
She hath girded with might her loins, And doth strengthen her arms.
18 She knows that the things she makes are valuable. She keeps busy—her lamp burns late into the night.
She hath perceived when her merchandise [is] good, Her lamp is not extinguished in the night.
19 She spins the thread and weaves the cloth.
Her hands she hath sent forth on a spindle, And her hands have held a distaff.
20 She's generous to the poor, and gives help to the needy.
Her hand she hath spread forth to the poor, Yea, her hands she sent forth to the needy.
21 She doesn't worry if it snows, because her whole family has warm clothing.
She is not afraid of her household from snow, For all her household are clothed [with] scarlet.
22 She makes herself bedspreads; she dresses in fine linen and purple clothes.
Ornamental coverings she hath made for herself, Silk and purple [are] her clothing.
23 Her husband is well-respected in the council at the town gates, where he sits with the town elders.
Known in the gates is her husband, In his sitting with elders of the land.
24 She makes linen clothes for sale, and supplies merchants with belts.
Linen garments she hath made, and selleth, And a girdle she hath given to the merchant.
25 She's clothed with strength and dignity, and she is happy about the future.
Strength and honour [are] her clothing, And she rejoiceth at a latter day.
26 She speaks wise words, and she's kind when she gives instructions.
Her mouth she hath opened in wisdom, And the law of kindness [is] on her tongue.
27 She looks after the needs of her whole household, and she's never idle.
She [is] watching the ways of her household, And bread of sloth she eateth not.
28 Her children are quick to bless her. Her husband praises her too, saying,
Her sons have risen up, and pronounce her happy, Her husband, and he praiseth her,
29 “Many women do great things, but you are better than all of them!”
'Many [are] the daughters who have done worthily, Thou hast gone up above them all.'
30 Charm can deceive, and beauty fades, but a woman who honors the Lord should be praised.
The grace [is] false, and the beauty [is] vain, A woman fearing Jehovah, she may boast herself.
31 Give her the recognition she deserves; praise her publicly for what she's done.
Give ye to her of the fruit of her hands, And her works do praise her in the gates!
