Proverbs 31
1 The words given to King Lemuel; the prophecy which his mother taught him.
These are the words of King Lemuel, an oracle, taught to him by his mother.
2 What, O my son! and what, O son of my womb! Yea, what, O son of my vows! [[shall I say to thee?]]
What shall I tell you, my son?—the son I gave birth to, the son given in response to my vows.
3 Give not thy strength to women, Nor thy ways to that which destroyeth kings!
Don't waste your strength sleeping with women, those that bring down kings.
4 It is not for kings, O Lemuel! It is not for kings to drink wine, Nor for princes to desire strong drink;
Lemuel, kings shouldn't be drinking wine, rulers shouldn't be drinking alcohol.
5 Lest they drink, and forget the law, And pervert the rights of any of the afflicted.
For if they drink, they'll forget what the law says, and pervert the rights of those who are suffering.
6 Give strong drink to him who is ready to perish, And wine to him that hath a heavy heart;
Give alcohol to those who are dying, and wine to those who are in terrible distress.
7 Let him drink and forget his poverty, And remember his misery no more!
Let them drink so they can forget their poverty, and not remember their troubles any longer.
8 Open thy mouth for the dumb, In the cause of every orphan!
Speak up for those who have no voice, for the rights of those marginalized by society.
9 Open thy mouth, judge righteously, And maintain the cause of the poor and needy!
Speak up and judge fairly; defend the poor and destitute.
10 Who can find a capable woman? Her worth is far above pearls.
Who can find a strong, capable wife? She's worth more than jewels!
11 The heart of her husband trusteth in her, And he is in no want of gain.
Her husband has complete confidence in her, and with her he'll never be poor.
12 She doeth him good, and not evil, All the days of her life.
She brings him good, not evil, all her life.
13 She seeketh wool and flax, And worketh willingly with her hands.
She gets wool and flax, and with her eager hands turns them into clothes.
14 She is like the merchants' ships; She bringeth her food from afar.
Like a merchant's ship, she brings food from far away.
15 She riseth while it is yet night, And giveth food to her family, And a task to her maidens.
She gets up while it's still dark to make breakfast for her family, and to plan what her servant girls need to do.
16 She layeth a plan for a field, and buyeth it; With the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard.
She looks at a field, and decides to buy it; from the money she's earned she buys a vineyard.
17 She girdeth her loins with strength, And maketh strong her arms.
She's keen to get ready, and works hard with her strong arms.
18 She perceiveth how pleasant is her gain, And her lamp is not extinguished in the night.
She knows that the things she makes are valuable. She keeps busy—her lamp burns late into the night.
19 She putteth forth her hands to the distaff, And her hands take hold of the spindle.
She spins the thread and weaves the cloth.
20 She spreadeth out her hand to the poor, Yea, she reacheth forth her hands to the needy.
She's generous to the poor, and gives help to the needy.
21 She hath no fear for her household on account of the snow, For all her household are clothed with crimson.
She doesn't worry if it snows, because her whole family has warm clothing.
22 She maketh for herself coverlets; Her clothing is of fine linen and purple.
She makes herself bedspreads; she dresses in fine linen and purple clothes.
23 Her husband is known in the gates, When he sitteth with the elders of the land.
Her husband is well-respected in the council at the town gates, where he sits with the town elders.
24 She maketh linen garments and selleth them, And delivereth girdles to the merchant.
She makes linen clothes for sale, and supplies merchants with belts.
25 Strength and honor are her clothing; And she laugheth at the days to come.
She's clothed with strength and dignity, and she is happy about the future.
26 She openeth her mouth with wisdom, And kind instruction is upon her tongue.
She speaks wise words, and she's kind when she gives instructions.
27 She looketh well to the ways of her household, And eateth not the bread of idleness.
She looks after the needs of her whole household, and she's never idle.
28 Her children rise up, and extol her; Her husband, and praiseth her, [[saving, ]]
Her children are quick to bless her. Her husband praises her too, saying,
29 “Many daughters have done, virtuously, But thou excellest them all.”
“Many women do great things, but you are better than all of them!”
30 Grace is deceitful, and beauty vain; But the woman that feareth the LORD, she shall be praised.
Charm can deceive, and beauty fades, but a woman who honors the Lord should be praised.
31 Give ye her of the fruit of her hands, And let her works praise her in the gates.
Give her the recognition she deserves; praise her publicly for what she's done.
