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 wherewith 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 the beloved of my womb, what, O the 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].
Give not thy substance to women, and thy riches to destroy kings.
4 Lemuel, kings should not be [constantly] drinking wine or [greatly] desire [to drink other] strong/alcoholic drinks.
Give not to kings, O Lamuel, give not wine to kings: because there is no secret where drunkenness reigneth:
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 lest they drink and forget judgments, and pervert the cause of the children 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 them that are sad: and wine to them that are grieved in mind:
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 want, 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 thy mouth for the dumb, and for the causes of all the children that pass.
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 thy mouth, decree that which is just, and do justice to the needy and 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 valiant woman? far and from the uttermost coasts is the price of her.
11 Her husband completely trusts her, and [because of her], he has everything that he needs [LIT].
The heart of her husband trusteth in her, and he shall have no need 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 render him 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 hath sought wool and flax, and hath wrought 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 is like the merchant’s ship, she bringeth her bread from afar.
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 hath risen in the night, and given a prey to her household, and victuals 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 hath considered a field, and bought it: with the fruit of her hands she hath planted a vineyard.
17 She works very hard [IDM]; she makes her arms strong [by the work she does].
She hath girded her loins with strength, and hath 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 hath tasted and seen that her traffic is good: her lamp shall not be put out in the 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 hath put out 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 hath opened her hand to the needy, and stretched out 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 for her house in the cold of snow: for all her domestics are clothed with double garments.
22 She makes bedspreads/quilts for the beds. She wears fine linen clothes that are dyed purple, [like queens wear].
She hath made for herself clothing of tapestry: fine linen, and purple is her covering.
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 honourable in the gates, when he sitteth among the senators of the land.
24 She makes clothes from linen cloth and sells them. She sells sashes to shop owners.
She made fine linen, and sold it, and delivered a girdle to the Chanaanite.
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 beauty are her clothing, and she shall laugh in the latter day.
26 When she speaks, she says what is wise. When she gives instructions, she speaks [MTY] kindly (OR, faithfully).
She hath 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 hath looked well to the paths of her house, and hath not eaten her bread idle.
28 Her children all together speak highly of her, and her husband also praises her.
Her children rose up, and called her blessed: her husband, and he 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: thou hast 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.
Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: the woman that feareth the Lord, she shall be praised.
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 hands: and let her works praise her in the gates.
