Proverbs 31
1 Words of Lemuel, a king, a declaration that his mother taught him:
The words given to King Lemuel; the prophecy which his mother taught him.
2 “What, my son? And what, son of my womb? And what, son of my vows?
What, O my son! and what, O son of my womb! Yea, what, O son of my vows! [[shall I say to thee?]]
3 Do not give your strength to women, And your ways to wiping away of kings.
Give not thy strength to women, Nor thy ways to that which destroyeth kings!
4 [It is] not for kings, O Lemuel, Not for kings, to drink wine, And for princes—a desire of strong drink.
It is not for kings, O Lemuel! It is not for kings to drink wine, Nor for princes to desire strong drink;
5 Lest he drink, and forget the decree, And change the judgment of any of the sons of affliction.
Lest they drink, and forget the law, And pervert the rights of any of the afflicted.
6 Give strong drink to the perishing, And wine to the bitter in soul,
Give strong drink to him who is ready to perish, And wine to him that hath a heavy heart;
7 He drinks, and forgets his poverty, And he does not remember his misery again.
Let him drink and forget his poverty, And remember his misery no more!
8 Open your mouth for the mute, For the right of all sons of change.
Open thy mouth for the dumb, In the cause of every orphan!
9 Open your mouth, judge righteously, Both the cause of the poor and needy!”
Open thy mouth, judge righteously, And maintain the cause of the poor and needy!
10 [ALEPH-BET] A woman of worth who finds? Indeed, her price [is] far above rubies.
Who can find a capable woman? Her worth is far above pearls.
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 is in no want of gain.
12 She has done him good, and not evil, All [the] days of her life.
She doeth 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 seeketh wool and flax, And worketh willingly with her hands.
14 She has been as ships of the merchant, She brings in her bread from afar.
She is like the merchants' ships; She bringeth her food from afar.
15 Indeed, she rises while yet night, And gives food to her household, And a portion to her girls.
She riseth while it is yet night, And giveth food to her family, And a task to her maidens.
16 She has considered a field, and takes it, She has planted a vineyard from the fruit of her hands.
She layeth a plan for a field, and buyeth it; With the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard.
17 She has girded her loins with might, And strengthens her arms.
She girdeth her loins with strength, And maketh strong her arms.
18 She has perceived when her merchandise [is] good, Her lamp is not extinguished in the night.
She perceiveth how pleasant is her gain, And her lamp is not extinguished in the night.
19 She has sent forth her hands on a spindle, And her hands have held a distaff.
She putteth forth her hands to the distaff, And her hands take hold of the spindle.
20 She has spread forth her hand to the poor, Indeed, she sent forth her hands to the needy.
She spreadeth out her hand to the poor, Yea, she reacheth forth her hands to the needy.
21 She is not afraid of her household from snow, For all her household are clothed [with] scarlet.
She hath no fear for her household on account of the snow, For all her household are clothed with crimson.
22 She has made ornamental coverings for herself, Silk and purple [are] her clothing.
She maketh for herself coverlets; Her clothing is of fine linen and purple.
23 Her husband is known in the gates, In his sitting with [the] elderly of [the] land.
Her husband is known in the gates, When he sitteth with the elders of the land.
24 She has made linen garments, and sells, And she has given a girdle to the merchant.
She maketh linen garments and selleth them, And delivereth girdles to the merchant.
25 Strength and honor [are] her clothing, And she rejoices at a latter day.
Strength and honor are her clothing; And she laugheth at the days to come.
26 She has opened her mouth in wisdom, And the law of kindness [is] on her tongue.
She openeth her mouth with wisdom, And kind instruction is upon her tongue.
27 She [is] watching the ways of her household, And she does not eat bread of sloth.
She looketh well to the ways of her household, And eateth not the bread of idleness.
28 Her sons have risen up, and pronounce her blessed, Her husband, and he praises her,
Her children rise up, and extol her; Her husband, and praiseth her, [[saving, ]]
29 “The daughters who have done worthily [are] many, You have gone up above them all.”
“Many daughters have done, virtuously, But thou excellest them all.”
30 Favor [is] deceitful, and beauty [is] vain, A woman fearing YHWH, she may boast herself.
Grace is deceitful, and beauty vain; But 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 ye her of the fruit of her hands, And let her works praise her in the gates.
