Proverbs 31
1 These are sayings/messages that [God gave to] King Lemuel’s mother, and which his mother taught him:
The words of king Lamuel. The vision by which his mother instructed 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.
“What, O my beloved? What, O beloved of my womb? What, O beloved 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].
Do not give your substance to women, or your riches to overthrow kings.
4 Lemuel, kings should not be [constantly] drinking wine or [greatly] desire [to drink other] strong/alcoholic drinks.
Not to kings, O Lamuel, not to kings give wine. For there are no secrets where drunkenness reigns.
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].
And perhaps they may drink and forget judgments, and alter the case of the sons of the poor.
6 Give strong/alcoholic drinks to those who are dying and to those who are (greatly distressed/suffering very much).
Give strong drink to the grieving, and wine to those who are bitter in soul.
7 If they drink, they will forget that they are poor, and they will not think about their distress/troubles any more.
Let them drink, and forget their needs, and remember their sorrow no 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 for the mute and for all the cases of the sons who are passing through.
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, declare what is just, and do justice to the indigent and the poor.
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 strong woman? Far away, and from the furthest parts, is her price.
11 Her husband completely trusts her, and [because of her], he has everything that he needs [LIT].
The heart of her husband confides in her, and he will not be deprived of spoils.
12 She never does anything that would harm him; she does good things for him all the days of her life.
She will repay him with good, and not evil, all the days of her life.
13 She finds wool and flax [in the market], and she enjoys spinning it [to make yarn].
She has sought wool and flax, and she has worked these by the counsel of 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 has become like a merchant’s ship, bringing her bread 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.
And she has risen in the night, and given a prey to her household, and provisions to her maids.
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 has considered a field and bought it. From the fruit of her own hands, she has planted a vineyard.
17 She works very hard [IDM]; she makes her arms strong [by the work she does].
She has wrapped her waist with fortitude, and she has strengthened her arm.
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.
She has tasted and seen that her tasks are good; her lamp shall not be extinguished 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].
She has put her hand to strong things, and her fingers have taken hold of the spindle.
20 She generously helps [MTY] those who are poor and needy [DOU].
She has opened her hand to the needy, and she has extended her hands 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.
She shall not fear, in the cold of snow, for her household. For all those of her household have been clothed two-fold.
22 She makes bedspreads/quilts for the beds. She wears fine linen clothes that are dyed purple, [like queens wear].
She has made embroidered clothing for herself. Fine linen and purple is her garment.
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.
Her husband is noble at the gates, when he sits among the senators of the land.
24 She makes clothes from linen cloth and sells them. She sells sashes to shop owners.
She has made finely woven cloth and sold it, and she has delivered a waistband to the Canaanite.
25 She is strong in her character and respected/dignified, and she (laughs at/is not afraid of) [what will happen in] the future.
Strength and elegance are her clothing, and she will laugh in the final days.
26 When she speaks, she says what is wise. When she gives instructions, she speaks [MTY] kindly (OR, faithfully).
She has opened her mouth to wisdom, and the law of clemency is on her tongue.
27 She watches over everything that is done in her household, and she [IDM] is never lazy.
She has considered the paths of her household, and she has not eaten her bread in idleness.
28 Her children all together speak highly of her, and her husband also praises her.
Her sons rose up and predicted great happiness; her husband rose up and praised her.
29 [He says to her], “There are many women who do admirable things, but you surpass them all!”
Many daughters have gathered together riches; you have surpassed 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.
Charm is false, and beauty is vain. The woman who fears the Lord, the same shall be praised.
31 Reward women who are like that, and praise them in public [MTY] for what they have done.
Give to her from the fruit of her own hands. And let her works praise her at the gates.
