< Proverbs 31 >

1 Words of Lemuel, a king, a declaration that his mother taught him:
These are sayings/messages that [God gave to] King Lemuel’s mother, and which his mother taught him:
2 “What, my son? And what, son of my womb? And what, son of my vows?
You are my son; I gave birth to you [RHQ]; you are the son that [God gave me] in answer to my prayers.
3 Do not give your strength to women, And your ways to wiping away of kings.
Do not exhaust your energy [having sex] [EUP] with women [to whom you are not married], with women who ruin kings [by having sex with them].
4 [It is] not for kings, O Lemuel, Not for kings, to drink wine, And for princes—a desire of strong drink.
Lemuel, kings should not be [constantly] drinking wine or [greatly] desire [to drink other] strong/alcoholic drinks.
5 Lest he drink, and forget the decree, And change the judgment of any of the sons of affliction.
If they do that, they forget the laws [that they have made], and they do not do what is right for poor/afflicted [people].
6 Give strong drink to the perishing, And wine to the bitter in soul,
Give strong/alcoholic drinks to those who are dying and to those who are (greatly distressed/suffering very much).
7 He drinks, and forgets his poverty, And he does not remember his misery again.
If they drink, they will forget that they are poor, and they will not think about their distress/troubles any more.
8 Open your mouth for the mute, For the right of all sons of change.
Speak [MTY] to defend people who are unable to defend themselves; speak to encourage others to do what is right for those who are helpless.
9 Open your mouth, judge righteously, Both the cause of the poor and needy!”
Speak [MTY] (on their behalf/to help them) and try to cause judges to decide matters fairly/justly; try to cause others to do for poor and needy [people] what should be done for them.
10 [ALEPH-BET] A woman of worth who finds? Indeed, her price [is] far above rubies.
It is very difficult [for a man] to [RHQ] find a wife who is good and who is capable [of doing many things]. [Any woman who is like that] is worth more than jewels.
11 The heart of her husband has trusted in her, And he does not lack spoil.
Her husband completely trusts her, and [because of her], he has everything that he needs [LIT].
12 She has done him good, and not evil, All [the] days of her life.
She never does anything that would harm him; she does good things for him all the days of her life.
13 She has sought wool and flax, And with delight she works [with] her hands.
She finds wool and flax [in the market], and she enjoys spinning it [to make yarn].
14 She has been as ships of the merchant, She brings in her bread from afar.
She is like [SIM] a ship that brings from far away goods/merchandise to sell, [because] she buys food that comes from far away.
15 Indeed, she rises while yet night, And gives food to her household, And a portion to her girls.
She gets up before dawn to prepare food for her family. [Then] she plans the work that her servant girls will do on that day.
16 She has considered a field, and takes it, She has planted a vineyard from the fruit of her hands.
She [goes out and] looks at a field [that someone wants to sell]; and [if it is a good field], she buys it. She [buys] grapevines [MTY] with the money that she has earned, [and then] she plants them.
17 She has girded her loins with might, And strengthens her arms.
She works very hard [IDM]; she makes her arms strong [by the work she does].
18 She has perceived when her merchandise [is] good, Her lamp is not extinguished in the night.
She knows when she is getting a good profit from her business. [When it is necessary], she works [MTY] until it is late at night.
19 She has sent forth her hands on a spindle, And her hands have held a distaff.
She holds the (spindle/rod which twists the thread that she is making), and [then] she spins the thread [MTY] [that she will use].
20 She has spread forth her hand to the poor, Indeed, she sent forth her hands to the needy.
She generously helps [MTY] those who are poor and needy [DOU].
21 She is not afraid of her household from snow, For all her household are clothed [with] scarlet.
She is not worried that [the people in her house will be cold in] the winter, because [she has made] warm clothes for all of them.
22 She has made ornamental coverings for herself, Silk and purple [are] her clothing.
She makes bedspreads/quilts for the beds. She wears fine linen clothes that are dyed purple, [like queens wear].
23 Her husband is known in the gates, In his sitting with [the] elderly of [the] land.
Her husband is [well] known by the important people of the town; he sits with the [other] town leaders in the meetings of the town council.
24 She has made linen garments, and sells, And she has given a girdle to the merchant.
She makes clothes from linen cloth and sells them. She sells sashes to shop owners.
25 Strength and honor [are] her clothing, And she rejoices at a latter day.
She is strong in her character and respected/dignified, and she (laughs at/is not afraid of) [what will happen in] the future.
26 She has opened her mouth in wisdom, And the law of kindness [is] on her tongue.
When she speaks, she says what is wise. When she gives instructions, she speaks [MTY] kindly (OR, faithfully).
27 She [is] watching the ways of her household, And she does not eat bread of sloth.
She watches over everything that is done in her household, and she [IDM] is never lazy.
28 Her sons have risen up, and pronounce her blessed, Her husband, and he praises her,
Her children all together speak highly of her, and her husband also praises her.
29 “The daughters who have done worthily [are] many, You have gone up above them all.”
[He says to her], “There are many women who do admirable things, but you surpass them all!”
30 Favor [is] deceitful, and beauty [is] vain, A woman fearing YHWH, she may boast herself.
Some women who are attractive [are not really good women], [but] they can deceive us [regarding what they are really like]. Furthermore, women’s beauty does not last; but women who revere Yahweh should be honored.
31 Give to her of the fruit of her hands, And her works praise her in the gates!
Reward women who are like that, and praise them in public [MTY] for what they have done.

< Proverbs 31 >