Proverbs 31
1 These are sayings/messages that [God gave to] King Lemuel’s mother, and which his mother taught him:
My words have been spoken by God—the oracular answer of a king, whom his mother instructed.
2 You are my son; I gave birth to you [RHQ]; you are the son that [God gave me] in answer to my prayers.
What will you keep, my son, what? the words of God. My firstborn son, I speak to you: what? son of my womb? what? son of my vows?
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].
Give not your wealth to women, nor your mind and living to remorse. Do all things with counsel: drink wine with counsel.
4 Lemuel, kings should not be [constantly] drinking wine or [greatly] desire [to drink other] strong/alcoholic drinks.
Princes are prone to anger: let them then not drink wine:
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].
lest they drink, and forget wisdom, and be not able to judge the poor rightly.
6 Give strong/alcoholic drinks to those who are dying and to those who are (greatly distressed/suffering very much).
Give strong drink to those that are in sorrow, and the wine to drink to those in pain:
7 If they drink, they will forget that they are poor, and they will not think about their distress/troubles any more.
that they may forget their poverty, and may not remember their 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.
Open your mouth with the word of God, and judge all fairly.
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.
Open your mouth and judge justly, and plead the cause of the poor and weak.
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.
Who shall find a virtuous woman? for such a one is more valuable than precious stones.
11 Her husband completely trusts her, and [because of her], he has everything that he needs [LIT].
The heart of her husband trusts in her: such a one shall stand in no need of fine spoils.
12 She never does anything that would harm him; she does good things for him all the days of her life.
For she employs all her living for her husband's good.
13 She finds wool and flax [in the market], and she enjoys spinning it [to make yarn].
Gathering wool and flax, she makes it serviceable with her hands.
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.
She is like a ship trading from a distance: so she procures her livelihood.
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.
And she rises by night, and gives food to her household, and [appointed] tasks to her maidens.
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.
She views a farm, and buys it: and with the fruit of her hands she plants and a possession.
17 She works very hard [IDM]; she makes her arms strong [by the work she does].
She strongly girds her loins, and strengthens her arms for work.
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.
And she finds by experience that working is good; and her candle goes not out all 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].
She reaches forth her arms to needful [works], and applies her hands to the spindle.
20 She generously helps [MTY] those who are poor and needy [DOU].
And she opens her hands to the needy, and reaches out fruit to the poor.
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.
Her husband is not anxious about those at home when he tarries anywhere abroad: for all her household are clothed.
22 She makes bedspreads/quilts for the beds. She wears fine linen clothes that are dyed purple, [like queens wear].
She makes for her husband clothes of double texture, and garments for herself of fine linen and scarlet.
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.
And her husband becomes a distinguished [person] in the gates, when he sits in council with the old inhabitants of the land.
24 She makes clothes from linen cloth and sells them. She sells sashes to shop owners.
She makes fine linens, and sells girdles to the Chananites: she opens her mouth heedfully and with propriety, and controls her tongue.
25 She is strong in her character and respected/dignified, and she (laughs at/is not afraid of) [what will happen in] the future.
She puts on strength and honour; and rejoices in the last days.
26 When she speaks, she says what is wise. When she gives instructions, she speaks [MTY] kindly (OR, faithfully).
But she opens her mouth wisely, and according to law.
27 She watches over everything that is done in her household, and she [IDM] is never lazy.
The ways of her household are careful, and she eats not the bread of idleness.
28 Her children all together speak highly of her, and her husband also praises her.
And [her] kindness to them sets up her children for them, and they grow rich, and her husband praises her.
29 [He says to her], “There are many women who do admirable things, but you surpass them all!”
Many daughters have obtained wealth, many have wrought valiantly; but you have exceeded, you have surpassed 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.
Charms are false, and woman's beauty is vain: for it is a wise woman that is blessed, and let her praise the fear the Lord.
31 Reward women who are like that, and praise them in public [MTY] for what they have done.
Give her of the fruit of her lips; and let her husband be praised in the gates.
