Proverbs 31
1 Words of Lemuel a king, a declaration that his mother taught him:
The words of King Lemuel—an instruction his mother taught him.
2 'What, my son? and what, son of my womb? And what, son of my vows?
What, my son? What is it, son of my womb? What do you want, 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, or your ways to those who destroy 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, Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine, or for rulers to crave strong drink,
5 Lest he drink, and forget the decree, And change the judgment of any of the sons of affliction.
because when they drink they forget what has been decreed, and pervert the rights of all the afflicted.
6 Give strong drink to the perishing, And wine to the bitter in soul,
Give strong drink to a person who is perishing and wine to those in bitter distress.
7 He drinketh, and forgetteth his poverty, And his misery he remembereth not again.
He will drink and he will forget his poverty and he will not remember his trouble.
8 Open thy mouth for the dumb, For the right of all sons of change.
Speak for those who cannot speak, for the causes of all who are perishing.
9 Open thy mouth, judge righteously, Both the cause of the poor and needy!'
Speak out and judge by the measure of what is right and plead the cause of poor and needy people.
10 A woman of worth who doth find? Yea, far above rubies [is] her price.
Who can find a capable wife? Her value is far more than jewels.
11 The heart of her husband hath trusted in her, And spoil he lacketh not.
The heart of her husband trusts in her, and he will never be poor.
12 She hath done him good, and not evil, All days of her life.
She does good things for him 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 selects wool and flax, and works with the delight of her hands.
14 She hath been as ships of the merchant, From afar she bringeth in her bread.
She is like the merchant ships; she brings her food from far away.
15 Yea, she riseth while yet night, And giveth food to her household, And a portion to her damsels.
She rises while it is night and gives food to her household, and she distributes the work for her female servants.
16 She hath considered a field, and taketh it, From the fruit of her hands she hath planted a vineyard.
She considers a field and buys it, with the fruit of her hands she plants a vineyard.
17 She hath girded with might her loins, And doth strengthen her arms.
She dresses herself with strength and makes her arms strong.
18 She hath perceived when her merchandise [is] good, Her lamp is not extinguished in the night.
She perceives what will make a good profit for her; all night long her lamp is not extinguished.
19 Her hands she hath sent forth on a spindle, And her hands have held a distaff.
She puts her hands on the spindle, and she holds the twisting thread.
20 Her hand she hath spread forth to the poor, Yea, her hands she sent forth to the needy.
She reaches out with her hand to poor people; she reaches out with her hands to needy people.
21 She is not afraid of her household from snow, For all her household are clothed [with] scarlet.
She is not afraid of the snow for her household, for all her household are clothed in scarlet.
22 Ornamental coverings she hath made for herself, Silk and purple [are] her clothing.
She makes coverings for her bed, and she wears clothes of fine purple linen.
23 Known in the gates is her husband, In his sitting with elders of the land.
Her husband is known at the gates, when he sits with the elders of the land.
24 Linen garments she hath made, and selleth, And a girdle she hath given to the merchant.
She makes linen garments and sells them, and she supplies sashes to the merchants.
25 Strength and honour [are] her clothing, And she rejoiceth at a latter day.
She is clothed with strength and honor, and she laughs at the time to come.
26 Her mouth she hath opened in wisdom, And the law of kindness [is] on her tongue.
She opens her mouth with 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 watches over the ways of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness.
28 Her sons have risen up, and pronounce her happy, Her husband, and he praiseth her,
Her children rise up and call her blessed, and her husband praises her, saying,
29 'Many [are] the daughters who have done worthily, Thou hast gone up above them all.'
“Many women have done well, but you surpassed them all.”
30 The grace [is] false, and the beauty [is] vain, A woman fearing Jehovah, she may boast herself.
Elegance is deceptive, beauty is vain, but a woman who fears Yahweh, she will be praised.
31 Give ye to her of the fruit of her hands, And her works do praise her in the gates!
Give her the fruit of her hands and let her works praise her in the gates.
