Proverbs 31
1 Words of Lemuel a king, a declaration that his mother taught him:
The words of Lemuel the king, —the strain which was taught him by his mother: —
2 'What, my son? and what, son of my womb? And what, son of my vows?
What, my son? and what, the son of my womb? aye what, the son of my vows?
3 Give not to women thy strength, And thy ways to wiping away of kings.
Do not give, to women, thy strength, nor thy ways, to them who ruin 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, it is not for kings to drink wine, nor, for dignitaries, to desire 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 that which is decreed, and alter the plea of any who are sorely oppressed.
6 Give strong drink to the perishing, And wine to the bitter in soul,
Give strong drink, to him that is perishing, and wine, to such as are embittered in soul:
7 He drinketh, and forgetteth his poverty, And his misery he remembereth not again.
Let him drink, and forget his poverty, and, his wearying toil, let him remember no more.
8 Open thy mouth for the dumb, For the right of all sons of change.
Open thy mouth for the dumb, for the cause of all the children of the departed.
9 Open thy mouth, judge righteously, Both the cause of the poor and needy!'
Open thy mouth—judge righteously, —and administer justice for the poor and the needy.
10 A woman of worth who doth find? Yea, far above rubies [is] her price.
A virtuous woman, who can find? for, far beyond corals, is her worth.
11 The heart of her husband hath trusted in her, And spoil he lacketh not.
The heart of her husband, trusteth her, and, gain, he shall not lack:
12 She hath done him good, and not evil, All days of her life.
She doeth 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 seeketh wool and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands:
14 She hath been as ships of the merchant, From afar she bringeth in her bread.
She is like the ships of the merchant, from afar, she bringeth in her food;
15 Yea, she riseth while yet night, And giveth food to her household, And a portion to her damsels.
And she riseth, while yet it is night, and giveth food to her household, and a task to her maidens:
16 She hath considered a field, and taketh it, From the fruit of her hands she hath planted a vineyard.
She considereth a field, and procureth it, Out of the fruit of her hands, she planteth a vineyard:
17 She hath girded with might her loins, And doth strengthen her arms.
She girdeth, with strength her loins, and putteth vigour into her arms:
18 She hath perceived when her merchandise [is] good, Her lamp is not extinguished in the night.
She tasteth, whether, good, be her merchandise, and her lamp, goeth not out by night:
19 Her hands she hath sent forth on a spindle, And her hands have held a distaff.
Her hands, she putteth forth to the distaff, and, her palms, lay hold of the spindle:
20 Her hand she hath spread forth to the poor, Yea, her hands she sent forth to the needy.
Her palm, she spreadeth out to the oppressed, and, her hands, she extendeth to the needy:
21 She is not afraid of her household from snow, For all her household are clothed [with] scarlet.
She feareth not, for her household, because of the snow, for, all her household, are clothed with crimson:
22 Ornamental coverings she hath made for herself, Silk and purple [are] her clothing.
Coverlets, she maketh for herself, Of white linen and of purple, is her clothing:
23 Known in the gates is her husband, In his sitting with elders of the land.
Known in the gates, is her husband, when he sitteth, with the elders of the land:
24 Linen garments she hath made, and selleth, And a girdle she hath given to the merchant.
Fine linen wraps, she maketh and selleth, and, girdles, doth she deliver to the trader:
25 Strength and honour [are] her clothing, And she rejoiceth at a latter day.
Strength and dignity, are her clothing, and she laugheth at the time to come:
26 Her mouth she hath opened in wisdom, And the law of kindness [is] on her tongue.
Her mouth, she openeth with wisdom, and, the instruction of kindness, is on her tongue:
27 She [is] watching the ways of her household, And bread of sloth she eateth not.
She looketh well to the goings of her household, and, the bread of idleness, will she not eat.
28 Her sons have risen up, and pronounce her happy, Her husband, and he praiseth her,
Her children rise up, and call her happy! her husband, and he praiseth her: —
29 'Many [are] the daughters who have done worthily, Thou hast gone up above them all.'
Many daughters, have done virtuously, but, thou, excellest them all!
30 The grace [is] false, and the beauty [is] vain, A woman fearing Jehovah, she may boast herself.
Deceitful is loveliness and vain is beauty, The woman that revereth Yahweh, she, shall be praised:
31 Give ye to her of the fruit of her hands, And her works do praise her in the gates!
Give her of the fruit of her own hands, and let her own works, praise her in the gates.
