Proverbs 31
1 The words of king Lemuel, the prophecy with which his mother instructed him.
Words of Lemuel, a king, a declaration that his mother taught him:
2 What [hast thou done], O my son: and what, O son of my body? and what, O son of my vows?
“What, my son? And what, son of my womb? And what, son of my vows?
3 Give not unto women thy vigor, nor thy ways to those that ruin kings.
Do not give your strength to women, And your ways to wiping away of kings.
4 Not for kings, O Lemoel, not for kings [it is fitting] to drink wine, nor for princes, 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 either might drink, and forget what is written in the law, and pervert the cause of all the afflicted.
Lest he drink, and forget the decree, And change the judgment of any of the sons of affliction.
6 Give strong drink unto him that is ready to perish, and wine unto those who have an embittered soul.
Give strong drink to the perishing, And wine to the bitter in soul,
7 Let such a one drink, and forget his poverty, and remember his trouble no more.
He drinks, and forgets his poverty, And he does not remember his misery again.
8 Open thy mouth for the dumb, for the cause of all fatherless children.
Open your mouth for the mute, For the right of all sons of change.
9 Open thy mouth, judge righteously, and decide the cause of the poor and needy.
Open your mouth, judge righteously, Both the cause of the poor and needy!”
10 Who can find a virtuous woman: for far above pearls is her value.
[ALEPH-BET] A woman of worth who finds? Indeed, her price [is] far above rubies.
11 The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, and he will not see his gain diminish.
The heart of her husband has trusted in her, And he does not lack spoil.
12 She treateth him well and not ill, all the days of her life.
She has done him good, and not evil, All [the] days of her life.
13 She seeketh for wool and flax, and worketh with her willing hands.
She has sought wool and flax, And with delight she works [with] her hands.
14 She is become like the merchant's ships: from afar doth she bring her food.
She has been as ships of the merchant, She brings in her bread from afar.
15 And she riseth while it is yet night, and giveth provision to her household, and a task to her maidens.
Indeed, she rises while yet night, And gives food to her household, And a portion to her girls.
16 She thinketh of a field, and buyeth it: with the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard.
She has considered a field, and takes it, She has planted a vineyard from the fruit of her hands.
17 She girdeth with strength her loins, and giveth vigor to her arms.
She has girded her loins with might, And strengthens her arms.
18 She perceiveth that her profit is good: [therefore] her lamp goeth not out by night.
She has perceived when her merchandise [is] good, Her lamp is not extinguished in the night.
19 She stretcheth out her hands to the spindle, and her palms hold fast the distaff.
She has sent forth her hands on a spindle, And her hands have held a distaff.
20 She spreadeth out wide her open palm to the poor: yea, her hands she stretcheth forth to the needy.
She has spread forth her hand to the poor, Indeed, she sent forth her hands to the needy.
21 She hath no fear for her household of the snow: for all her household are clothed in scarlet.
She is not afraid of her household from snow, For all her household are clothed [with] scarlet.
22 Tapestry-covering she maketh for herself: of linen and purple is her attire.
She has made ornamental coverings for herself, Silk and purple [are] her clothing.
23 Well known is in the gates her husband, when he sitteth with the elders of the land.
Her husband is known in the gates, In his sitting with [the] elderly of [the] land.
24 Fine tunics she maketh, and selleth them, and girdles she furnisheth unto the merchant.
She has made linen garments, and sells, And she has given a girdle to the merchant.
25 Strength and dignity are her clothing: and she smileth at the coming of the last day.
Strength and honor [are] her clothing, And she rejoices at a latter day.
26 She openeth her mouth with wisdom, and the law of kindness is on her tongue.
She has opened her mouth in wisdom, And the law of kindness [is] on her tongue.
27 She looketh well to the ways of her household, and the bread of idleness she doth not eat.
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, also, and he praiseth her:
Her sons have risen up, and pronounce her blessed, Her husband, and he praises her,
29 “Many daughters have done virtuously; but thou excellest them all.”
“The daughters who have done worthily [are] many, You have gone up above them all.”
30 False is grace, and vain is beauty: a woman only that feareth the Lord shall indeed 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 own works praise her in the gates.
Give to her of the fruit of her hands, And her works praise her in the gates!
