< Proverbs 31 >
1 The words of King Lemuel—an instruction his mother taught him.
These are the words of King Lemuel—the burden that his mother taught him:
2 What, my son? What is it, son of my womb? What do you want, son of my vows?
What shall I say, O my son? What, O son of my womb? What, O son of my vows?
3 Do not give your strength to women, or your ways to those who destroy kings.
Do not spend your strength on women or your vigor on those who ruin kings.
4 It is not for kings, Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine, or for rulers to crave strong drink,
It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine, or for rulers to crave strong drink,
5 because when they drink they forget what has been decreed, and pervert the rights of all the afflicted.
lest they drink and forget what is decreed, depriving all the oppressed of justice.
6 Give strong drink to a person who is perishing and wine to those in bitter distress.
Give strong drink to one who is perishing, and wine to the bitter in soul.
7 He will drink and he will forget his poverty and he will not remember his trouble.
Let him drink and forget his poverty, and remember his misery no more.
8 Speak for those who cannot speak, for the causes of all who are perishing.
Open your mouth for those with no voice, for the cause of all the dispossessed.
9 Speak out and judge by the measure of what is right and plead the cause of poor and needy people.
Open your mouth, judge righteously, and defend the cause of the poor and needy.
10 Who can find a capable wife? Her value is far more than jewels.
A wife of noble character, who can find? She is far more precious than rubies.
11 The heart of her husband trusts in her, and he will never be poor.
The heart of her husband trusts in her, and he lacks nothing of value.
12 She does good things for him and not evil all the days of her life.
She brings him good and not harm all the days of her life.
13 She selects wool and flax, and works with the delight of her hands.
She selects wool and flax and works with eager hands.
14 She is like the merchant ships; she brings her food from far away.
She is like the merchant ships, bringing her food from afar.
15 She rises while it is night and gives food to her household, and she distributes the work for her female servants.
She rises while it is still night to provide food for her household and portions for her maidservants.
16 She considers a field and buys it, with the fruit of her hands she plants a vineyard.
She appraises a field and buys it; from her earnings she plants a vineyard.
17 She dresses herself with strength and makes her arms strong.
She girds herself with strength and shows that her arms are strong.
18 She perceives what will make a good profit for her; all night long her lamp is not extinguished.
She sees that her gain is good, and her lamp is not extinguished at night.
19 She puts her hands on the spindle, and she holds the twisting thread.
She stretches out her hands to the distaff and grasps the spindle with her fingers.
20 She reaches out with her hand to poor people; she reaches out with her hands to needy people.
She opens her arms to the poor and reaches out her hands to the needy.
21 She is not afraid of the snow for her household, for all her household are clothed in scarlet.
When it snows, she has no fear for her household, for they are all clothed in scarlet.
22 She makes coverings for her bed, and she wears clothes of fine purple linen.
She makes coverings for her bed; her clothing is fine linen and purple.
23 Her husband is known at the gates, when he sits with the elders of the land.
Her husband is known at the city gate, where he sits among the elders of the land.
24 She makes linen garments and sells them, and she supplies sashes to the merchants.
She makes linen garments and sells them; she delivers sashes to the merchants.
25 She is clothed with strength and honor, and she laughs at the time to come.
Strength and honor are her clothing, and she can laugh at the days to come.
26 She opens her mouth with wisdom and the law of kindness is on her tongue.
She opens her mouth with wisdom, and faithful instruction is on her tongue.
27 She watches over the ways of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness.
She watches over the affairs of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness.
28 Her children rise up and call her blessed, and her husband praises her, saying,
Her children rise up and call her blessed; her husband praises her as well:
29 “Many women have done well, but you surpassed them all.”
“Many daughters have done noble things, but you surpass them all!”
30 Elegance is deceptive, beauty is vain, but a woman who fears Yahweh, she will be praised.
Charm is deceptive and beauty is fleeting, but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.
31 Give her the fruit of her hands and let her works praise her in the gates.
Give her the fruit of her hands, and let her works praise her at the gates.