Proverbs 31
1 The words of Lemuel the king, —the strain which was taught him by his mother: —
Words of Lemuel, a king, a declaration that his mother taught him:
2 What, my son? and what, the son of my womb? aye what, the son of my vows?
“What, my son? And what, son of my womb? And what, son of my vows?
3 Do not give, to women, thy strength, nor thy ways, to them who ruin kings.
Do not give your strength to women, And your ways to wiping away of kings.
4 It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine, nor, for dignitaries, to desire strong drink,
[It is] not for kings, O Lemuel, Not for kings, to drink wine, And for princes—a desire of strong drink.
5 Lest he drink, and forget that which is decreed, and alter the plea of any who are sorely oppressed.
Lest he drink, and forget the decree, And change the judgment of any of the sons of affliction.
6 Give strong drink, to him that is perishing, and wine, to such as are embittered in soul:
Give strong drink to the perishing, And wine to the bitter in soul,
7 Let him drink, and forget his poverty, and, his wearying toil, let him remember no more.
He drinks, and forgets his poverty, And he does not remember his misery again.
8 Open thy mouth for the dumb, for the cause of all the children of the departed.
Open your mouth for the mute, For the right of all sons of change.
9 Open thy mouth—judge righteously, —and administer justice for the poor and the needy.
Open your mouth, judge righteously, Both the cause of the poor and needy!”
10 A virtuous woman, who can find? for, far beyond corals, is her worth.
[ALEPH-BET] A woman of worth who finds? Indeed, her price [is] far above rubies.
11 The heart of her husband, trusteth her, and, gain, he shall not lack:
The heart of her husband has trusted in her, And he does not lack spoil.
12 She doeth him good and not evil, all the days of her life:
She has done him good, and not evil, All [the] days of her life.
13 She seeketh wool and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands:
She has sought wool and flax, And with delight she works [with] her hands.
14 She is like the ships of the merchant, from afar, she bringeth in her food;
She has been as ships of the merchant, She brings in her bread from afar.
15 And she riseth, while yet it is night, and giveth food to her household, and a task to her maidens:
Indeed, she rises while yet night, And gives food to her household, And a portion to her girls.
16 She considereth a field, and procureth it, Out of the fruit of her hands, she planteth a vineyard:
She has considered a field, and takes it, She has planted a vineyard from the fruit of her hands.
17 She girdeth, with strength her loins, and putteth vigour into her arms:
She has girded her loins with might, And strengthens her arms.
18 She tasteth, whether, good, be her merchandise, and her lamp, goeth not out by night:
She has perceived when her merchandise [is] good, Her lamp is not extinguished in the night.
19 Her hands, she putteth forth to the distaff, and, her palms, lay hold of the spindle:
She has sent forth her hands on a spindle, And her hands have held a distaff.
20 Her palm, she spreadeth out to the oppressed, and, her hands, she extendeth to the needy:
She has spread forth her hand to the poor, Indeed, she sent forth her hands to the needy.
21 She feareth not, for her household, because of the snow, for, all her household, are clothed with crimson:
She is not afraid of her household from snow, For all her household are clothed [with] scarlet.
22 Coverlets, she maketh for herself, Of white linen and of purple, is her clothing:
She has made ornamental coverings for herself, Silk and purple [are] her clothing.
23 Known in the gates, is her husband, when he sitteth, with the elders of the land:
Her husband is known in the gates, In his sitting with [the] elderly of [the] land.
24 Fine linen wraps, she maketh and selleth, and, girdles, doth she deliver to the trader:
She has made linen garments, and sells, And she has given a girdle to the merchant.
25 Strength and dignity, are her clothing, and she laugheth at the time to come:
Strength and honor [are] her clothing, And she rejoices at a latter day.
26 Her mouth, she openeth with wisdom, and, the instruction of kindness, is on her tongue:
She has opened her mouth in wisdom, And the law of kindness [is] on her tongue.
27 She looketh well to the goings of her household, and, the bread of idleness, will she not eat.
She [is] watching the ways of her household, And she does not eat bread of sloth.
28 Her children rise up, and call her happy! her husband, and he praiseth her: —
Her sons have risen up, and pronounce her blessed, Her husband, and he praises her,
29 Many daughters, have done virtuously, but, thou, excellest them all!
“The daughters who have done worthily [are] many, You have gone up above them all.”
30 Deceitful is loveliness and vain is beauty, The woman that revereth Yahweh, she, shall be praised:
Favor [is] deceitful, and beauty [is] vain, A woman fearing YHWH, she may boast herself.
31 Give her of the fruit of her own hands, and let her own works, praise her in the gates.
Give to her of the fruit of her hands, And her works praise her in the gates!
