Proverbs 31
1 The words of Lemuel the king, —the strain which was taught him by his mother: —
These are sayings/messages that [God gave to] King Lemuel’s mother, and which his mother taught him:
2 What, my son? and what, the son of my womb? aye what, the 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, to women, thy strength, nor thy ways, to them who ruin 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, it is not for kings to drink wine, nor, for dignitaries, to desire 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 that which is decreed, and alter the plea of any who are sorely oppressed.
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 him that is perishing, and wine, to such as are embittered in soul:
Give strong/alcoholic drinks to those who are dying and to those who are (greatly distressed/suffering very much).
7 Let him drink, and forget his poverty, and, his wearying toil, let him remember no more.
If they drink, they will forget that they are poor, and they will not think about their distress/troubles any more.
8 Open thy mouth for the dumb, for the cause of all the children of the departed.
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 thy mouth—judge righteously, —and administer justice for the poor and the 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 A virtuous woman, who can find? for, far beyond corals, is her worth.
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, trusteth her, and, gain, he shall not lack:
Her husband completely trusts her, and [because of her], he has everything that he needs [LIT].
12 She doeth 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 seeketh wool and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands:
She finds wool and flax [in the market], and she enjoys spinning it [to make yarn].
14 She is like the ships of the merchant, from afar, she bringeth in her food;
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 And she riseth, while yet it is night, and giveth food to her household, and a task to her maidens:
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 considereth a field, and procureth it, Out of the fruit of her hands, she planteth a vineyard:
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 girdeth, with strength her loins, and putteth vigour into her arms:
She works very hard [IDM]; she makes her arms strong [by the work she does].
18 She tasteth, whether, good, be her merchandise, and her lamp, goeth not out by 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 Her hands, she putteth forth to the distaff, and, her palms, lay hold of the spindle:
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 Her palm, she spreadeth out to the oppressed, and, her hands, she extendeth to the needy:
She generously helps [MTY] those who are poor and needy [DOU].
21 She feareth not, for her household, because of the snow, for, all her household, are clothed with crimson:
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 Coverlets, she maketh for herself, Of white linen and of purple, is her clothing:
She makes bedspreads/quilts for the beds. She wears fine linen clothes that are dyed purple, [like queens wear].
23 Known in the gates, is her husband, when he sitteth, with the elders 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 Fine linen wraps, she maketh and selleth, and, girdles, doth she deliver to the trader:
She makes clothes from linen cloth and sells them. She sells sashes to shop owners.
25 Strength and dignity, are her clothing, and she laugheth at the time to come:
She is strong in her character and respected/dignified, and she (laughs at/is not afraid of) [what will happen in] the future.
26 Her mouth, she openeth with wisdom, and, the instruction 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 looketh well to the goings of her household, and, the bread of idleness, will she not eat.
She watches over everything that is done in her household, and she [IDM] is never lazy.
28 Her children rise up, and call her happy! her husband, and he praiseth her: —
Her children all together speak highly of her, and her husband also praises her.
29 Many daughters, have done virtuously, but, thou, excellest them all!
[He says to her], “There are many women who do admirable things, but you surpass them all!”
30 Deceitful is loveliness and vain is beauty, The woman that revereth Yahweh, she, shall be praised:
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 her of the fruit of her own hands, and let her own works, praise her in the gates.
Reward women who are like that, and praise them in public [MTY] for what they have done.
