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