Proverbs 31

1 These are sayings/messages that [God gave to] King Lemuel’s mother, and which his mother taught him:

2 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 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 Lemuel, kings should not be [constantly] drinking wine or [greatly] desire [to drink other] strong/alcoholic drinks.

5 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/alcoholic drinks to those who are dying and to those who are (greatly distressed/suffering very much).

7 If they drink, they will forget that they are poor, and they will not think about their distress/troubles any more.

8 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 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 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 Her husband completely trusts her, and [because of her], he has everything that he needs [LIT].

12 She never does anything that would harm him; she does good things for him all the days of her life.

13 She finds wool and flax [in the market], and she enjoys spinning it [to make yarn].

14 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 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 [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 works very hard [IDM]; she makes her arms strong [by the work she does].

18 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 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 generously helps [MTY] those who are poor and needy [DOU].

21 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 makes bedspreads/quilts for the beds. She wears fine linen clothes that are dyed purple, [like queens wear].

23 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 makes clothes from linen cloth and sells them. She sells sashes to shop owners.

25 She is strong in her character and respected/dignified, and she (laughs at/is not afraid of) [what will happen in] the future.

26 When she speaks, she says what is wise. When she gives instructions, she speaks [MTY] kindly (OR, faithfully).

27 She watches over everything that is done in her household, and she [IDM] is never lazy.

28 Her children all together speak highly of her, and her husband also praises her.

29 [He says to her], “There are many women who do admirable things, but you surpass them all!”

30 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 Reward women who are like that, and praise them in public [MTY] for what they have done.