Proverbs 31
1 Words of Lemuel a king, a declaration that his mother taught him:
Words of Lemuel, a king, a declaration that his mother taught him:
2 'What, my son? and what, son of my womb? And what, son of my vows?
“What, my son? And what, son of my womb? And what, son of my vows?
3 Give not to women thy strength, And thy ways to wiping away of kings.
Do not give your strength to women, And your ways to wiping away of kings.
4 Not for kings, O Lemuel, Not for kings, to drink wine, And for princes a desire of strong drink.
[It is] not for kings, O Lemuel, Not for kings, to drink wine, And for princes—a desire of strong drink.
5 Lest he drink, and forget the decree, And change the judgment of any of the sons of affliction.
Lest he drink, and forget the decree, And change the judgment of any of the sons of affliction.
6 Give strong drink to the perishing, And wine to the bitter in soul,
Give strong drink to the perishing, And wine to the bitter in soul,
7 He drinketh, and forgetteth his poverty, And his misery he remembereth not again.
He drinks, and forgets his poverty, And he does not remember his misery again.
8 Open thy mouth for the dumb, For the right of all sons of change.
Open your mouth for the mute, For the right of all sons of change.
9 Open thy mouth, judge righteously, Both the cause of the poor and needy!'
Open your mouth, judge righteously, Both the cause of the poor and needy!”
10 A woman of worth who doth find? Yea, far above rubies [is] her price.
[ALEPH-BET] A woman of worth who finds? Indeed, her price [is] far above rubies.
11 The heart of her husband hath trusted in her, And spoil he lacketh not.
The heart of her husband has trusted in her, And he does not lack spoil.
12 She hath done him good, and not evil, All days of her life.
She has done him good, and not evil, All [the] days of her life.
13 She hath sought wool and flax, And with delight she worketh [with] her hands.
She has sought wool and flax, And with delight she works [with] her hands.
14 She hath been as ships of the merchant, From afar she bringeth in her bread.
She has been as ships of the merchant, She brings in her bread from afar.
15 Yea, she riseth while yet night, And giveth food to her household, And a portion to her damsels.
Indeed, she rises while yet night, And gives food to her household, And a portion to her girls.
16 She hath considered a field, and taketh it, From the fruit of her hands she hath planted a vineyard.
She has considered a field, and takes it, She has planted a vineyard from the fruit of her hands.
17 She hath girded with might her loins, And doth strengthen her arms.
She has girded her loins with might, And strengthens her arms.
18 She hath perceived when her merchandise [is] good, Her lamp is not extinguished in the night.
She has perceived when her merchandise [is] good, Her lamp is not extinguished in the night.
19 Her hands she hath sent forth on a spindle, And her hands have held a distaff.
She has sent forth her hands on a spindle, And her hands have held a distaff.
20 Her hand she hath spread forth to the poor, Yea, her hands she sent forth to the needy.
She has spread forth her hand to the poor, Indeed, she sent forth her hands to the needy.
21 She is not afraid of her household from snow, For all her household are clothed [with] scarlet.
She is not afraid of her household from snow, For all her household are clothed [with] scarlet.
22 Ornamental coverings she hath made for herself, Silk and purple [are] her clothing.
She has made ornamental coverings for herself, Silk and purple [are] her clothing.
23 Known in the gates is her husband, In his sitting with elders of the land.
Her husband is known in the gates, In his sitting with [the] elderly of [the] land.
24 Linen garments she hath made, and selleth, And a girdle she hath given to the merchant.
She has made linen garments, and sells, And she has given a girdle to the merchant.
25 Strength and honour [are] her clothing, And she rejoiceth at a latter day.
Strength and honor [are] her clothing, And she rejoices at a latter day.
26 Her mouth she hath opened in wisdom, And the law of kindness [is] on her tongue.
She has opened her mouth in wisdom, And the law of kindness [is] on her tongue.
27 She [is] watching the ways of her household, And bread of sloth she eateth not.
She [is] watching the ways of her household, And she does not eat bread of sloth.
28 Her sons have risen up, and pronounce her happy, Her husband, and he praiseth her,
Her sons have risen up, and pronounce her blessed, Her husband, and he praises her,
29 'Many [are] the daughters who have done worthily, Thou hast gone up above them all.'
“The daughters who have done worthily [are] many, You have gone up above them all.”
30 The grace [is] false, and the beauty [is] vain, A woman fearing Jehovah, she may boast herself.
Favor [is] deceitful, and beauty [is] vain, A woman fearing YHWH, she may boast herself.
31 Give ye to her of the fruit of her hands, And her works do praise her in the gates!
Give to her of the fruit of her hands, And her works praise her in the gates!
