Proverbs 31
1 Words of Lemuel, a king, a declaration that his mother taught him:
The words of King Lemuel—an instruction his mother taught him.
2 “What, my son? And what, son of my womb? And what, son of my vows?
What, my son? What is it, son of my womb? What do you want, son of my vows?
3 Do not give your strength to women, And your ways to wiping away of kings.
Do not give your strength to women, or your ways to those who destroy 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, Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine, or for rulers to crave strong drink,
5 Lest he drink, and forget the decree, And change the judgment of any of the sons of affliction.
because when they drink they forget what has been decreed, and pervert the rights of all the afflicted.
6 Give strong drink to the perishing, And wine to the bitter in soul,
Give strong drink to a person who is perishing and wine to those in bitter distress.
7 He drinks, and forgets his poverty, And he does not remember his misery again.
He will drink and he will forget his poverty and he will not remember his trouble.
8 Open your mouth for the mute, For the right of all sons of change.
Speak for those who cannot speak, for the causes of all who are perishing.
9 Open your mouth, judge righteously, Both the cause of the poor and needy!”
Speak out and judge by the measure of what is right and plead the cause of poor and needy people.
10 [ALEPH-BET] A woman of worth who finds? Indeed, her price [is] far above rubies.
Who can find a capable wife? Her value is far more than jewels.
11 The heart of her husband has trusted in her, And he does not lack spoil.
The heart of her husband trusts in her, and he will never be poor.
12 She has done him good, and not evil, All [the] days of her life.
She does good things for him 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 selects wool and flax, and works with the delight of her hands.
14 She has been as ships of the merchant, She brings in her bread from afar.
She is like the merchant ships; she brings her food from far away.
15 Indeed, she rises while yet night, And gives food to her household, And a portion to her girls.
She rises while it is night and gives food to her household, and she distributes the work for her female servants.
16 She has considered a field, and takes it, She has planted a vineyard from the fruit of her hands.
She considers a field and buys it, with the fruit of her hands she plants a vineyard.
17 She has girded her loins with might, And strengthens her arms.
She dresses herself with strength and makes her arms strong.
18 She has perceived when her merchandise [is] good, Her lamp is not extinguished in the night.
She perceives what will make a good profit for her; all night long her lamp is not extinguished.
19 She has sent forth her hands on a spindle, And her hands have held a distaff.
She puts her hands on the spindle, and she holds the twisting thread.
20 She has spread forth her hand to the poor, Indeed, she sent forth her hands to the needy.
She reaches out with her hand to poor people; she reaches out with her hands to needy people.
21 She is not afraid of her household from snow, For all her household are clothed [with] scarlet.
She is not afraid of the snow for her household, for all her household are clothed in scarlet.
22 She has made ornamental coverings for herself, Silk and purple [are] her clothing.
She makes coverings for her bed, and she wears clothes of fine purple linen.
23 Her husband is known in the gates, In his sitting with [the] elderly of [the] land.
Her husband is known at the gates, when he sits with the elders of the land.
24 She has made linen garments, and sells, And she has given a girdle to the merchant.
She makes linen garments and sells them, and she supplies sashes to the merchants.
25 Strength and honor [are] her clothing, And she rejoices at a latter day.
She is clothed with strength and honor, and she laughs at the time to come.
26 She has opened her mouth in wisdom, And the law of kindness [is] on her tongue.
She opens her mouth with wisdom and the law of kindness is on her tongue.
27 She [is] watching the ways of her household, And she does not eat bread of sloth.
She watches over the ways of her household and does not eat 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 call her blessed, and her husband praises her, saying,
29 “The daughters who have done worthily [are] many, You have gone up above them all.”
“Many women have done well, but you surpassed them all.”
30 Favor [is] deceitful, and beauty [is] vain, A woman fearing YHWH, she may boast herself.
Elegance is deceptive, beauty is vain, but a woman who fears Yahweh, she will be praised.
31 Give to her of the fruit of her hands, And her works praise her in the gates!
Give her the fruit of her hands and let her works praise her in the gates.
