Proverbs 31
1 Words of Lemuel, a king, a declaration that his mother taught him:
The words of king Lamuel. The vision by which his mother instructed him:
2 “What, my son? And what, son of my womb? And what, son of my vows?
“What, O my beloved? What, O beloved of my womb? What, O beloved of my vows?
3 Do not give your strength to women, And your ways to wiping away of kings.
Do not give your substance to women, or your riches to overthrow kings.
4 [It is] not for kings, O Lemuel, Not for kings, to drink wine, And for princes—a desire of strong drink.
Not to kings, O Lamuel, not to kings give wine. For there are no secrets where drunkenness reigns.
5 Lest he drink, and forget the decree, And change the judgment of any of the sons of affliction.
And perhaps they may drink and forget judgments, and alter the case of the sons of the poor.
6 Give strong drink to the perishing, And wine to the bitter in soul,
Give strong drink to the grieving, and wine to those who are bitter in soul.
7 He drinks, and forgets his poverty, And he does not remember his misery again.
Let them drink, and forget their needs, and remember their sorrow no more.
8 Open your mouth for the mute, For the right of all sons of change.
Open your mouth for the mute and for all the cases of the sons who are passing through.
9 Open your mouth, judge righteously, Both the cause of the poor and needy!”
Open your mouth, declare what is just, and do justice to the indigent and the poor.
10 [ALEPH-BET] A woman of worth who finds? Indeed, her price [is] far above rubies.
Who shall find a strong woman? Far away, and from the furthest parts, is her price.
11 The heart of her husband has trusted in her, And he does not lack spoil.
The heart of her husband confides in her, and he will not be deprived of spoils.
12 She has done him good, and not evil, All [the] days of her life.
She will repay him with good, and not evil, all the days of her life.
13 She has sought wool and flax, And with delight she works [with] her hands.
She has sought wool and flax, and she has worked these by the counsel of her hands.
14 She has been as ships of the merchant, She brings in her bread from afar.
She has become like a merchant’s ship, bringing her bread from far away.
15 Indeed, she rises while yet night, And gives food to her household, And a portion to her girls.
And she has risen in the night, and given a prey to her household, and provisions to her maids.
16 She has considered a field, and takes it, She has planted a vineyard from the fruit of her hands.
She has considered a field and bought it. From the fruit of her own hands, she has planted a vineyard.
17 She has girded her loins with might, And strengthens her arms.
She has wrapped her waist with fortitude, and she has strengthened her arm.
18 She has perceived when her merchandise [is] good, Her lamp is not extinguished in the night.
She has tasted and seen that her tasks are good; her lamp shall not be extinguished at night.
19 She has sent forth her hands on a spindle, And her hands have held a distaff.
She has put her hand to strong things, and her fingers have taken hold of the spindle.
20 She has spread forth her hand to the poor, Indeed, she sent forth her hands to the needy.
She has opened her hand to the needy, and she has extended her hands to the poor.
21 She is not afraid of her household from snow, For all her household are clothed [with] scarlet.
She shall not fear, in the cold of snow, for her household. For all those of her household have been clothed two-fold.
22 She has made ornamental coverings for herself, Silk and purple [are] her clothing.
She has made embroidered clothing for herself. Fine linen and purple is her garment.
23 Her husband is known in the gates, In his sitting with [the] elderly of [the] land.
Her husband is noble at the gates, when he sits among the senators of the land.
24 She has made linen garments, and sells, And she has given a girdle to the merchant.
She has made finely woven cloth and sold it, and she has delivered a waistband to the Canaanite.
25 Strength and honor [are] her clothing, And she rejoices at a latter day.
Strength and elegance are her clothing, and she will laugh in the final days.
26 She has opened her mouth in wisdom, And the law of kindness [is] on her tongue.
She has opened her mouth to wisdom, and the law of clemency is on her tongue.
27 She [is] watching the ways of her household, And she does not eat bread of sloth.
She has considered the paths of her household, and she has not eaten her bread in idleness.
28 Her sons have risen up, and pronounce her blessed, Her husband, and he praises her,
Her sons rose up and predicted great happiness; her husband rose up and praised her.
29 “The daughters who have done worthily [are] many, You have gone up above them all.”
Many daughters have gathered together riches; you have surpassed them all.
30 Favor [is] deceitful, and beauty [is] vain, A woman fearing YHWH, she may boast herself.
Charm is false, and beauty is vain. The woman who fears the Lord, the same shall be praised.
31 Give to her of the fruit of her hands, And her works praise her in the gates!
Give to her from the fruit of her own hands. And let her works praise her at the gates.
