Proverbs 31
31
Words of Lemuel
1The words of king Lemuel, the prophecy that his mother taught him.
2What, my son? and what, the son of my womb?
And what, the son of my vows?
3Give not thy strength unto women,
Nor thy ways to that which destroyeth kings.
4 It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine;
Nor for princes strong drink:
5Lest they drink, and forget the law,
And pervert the judgment of any of the afflicted.
6Give strong drink unto him that is ready to perish,
And wine unto those that be of heavy hearts.
7Let him drink, and forget his poverty,
And remember his misery no more.
8Open thy mouth for the dumb
In the cause of all such as are appointed to destruction.
9Open thy mouth, judge righteously,
And plead the cause of the poor and needy.
The Good Wife
10Who can find a virtuous woman?
For her price is far above rubies.
11The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her,
So that he shall have no need of spoil.
12She will do him good and not evil
All the days of her life.
13She seeketh wool, and flax,
And worketh willingly with her hands.
14She is like the merchants' ships;
She bringeth her food from afar.
15She riseth also while it is yet night,
And giveth meat to her household,
And a portion to her maidens.
16She considereth a field, and buyeth it:
With the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard.
17She girdeth her loins with strength,
And strengtheneth her arms.
18She perceiveth that her merchandise is good:
Her candle goeth not out by night.
19She layeth her hands to the spindle,
And her hands hold the distaff.
20She stretcheth out her hand to the poor;
Yea, she reacheth forth her hands to the needy.
21She is not afraid of the snow for her household:
For all her household are clothed with scarlet.
22She maketh herself coverings of tapestry;
Her clothing is silk and purple.
23Her husband is known in the gates,
When he sitteth among the elders of the land.
24She maketh fine linen, and selleth it;
And delivereth girdles unto the merchant.
25Strength and honour are her clothing;
And she shall rejoice in time to come.
26She openeth her mouth with wisdom;
And in her tongue is the law of kindness.
27She looketh well to the ways of her household,
And eateth not the bread of idleness.
28Her children arise up, and call her blessed;
Her husband also, and he praiseth her.
29Many daughters have done virtuously,
But thou excellest them all.
30Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain:
But a woman that feareth the LORD, she shall be praised.
31Give her of the fruit of her hands;
And let her own works praise her in the gates.
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Proverbs 31: KJV
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Rights in the Authorized (King James) Version in the United Kingdom are vested in the Crown. Published by permission of the Crown’s patentee, Cambridge University Press.
Learn More About King James VersionProverbs 31
31
The Words of Lemuel
1The words of King Lemuel,
an oracle # Or of Lemuel, king of Massa, or of King Lemuel, a burden # Pr 30:1 that his mother taught him:
2What should I say, my son?
What, son of my womb? # Is 49:15
What, son of my vows?
3Don’t spend your energy # Pr 5:9 on women
or your efforts on those who destroy kings. # Dt 17:17; 1Kg 11:1; Neh 13:26
4It is not for kings, Lemuel,
it is not for kings # 1Kg 16:9; 20:16; Ec 10:17 to drink wine # Pr 20:1
or for rulers to desire beer.
5Otherwise, they # Lit he will drink,
forget what is decreed, # Hs 4:11
and pervert justice for all the oppressed. # Lit sons of affliction # Ps 72:1-2; Is 28:7
6Give beer to one who is dying
and wine to one whose life is bitter. # Jb 3:20
7Let him drink so that he can forget his poverty
and remember his trouble no more. # Ps 104:15
8Speak up # Lit Open your mouth for those who have no voice, # Lit who are mute # Jb 29:12-17
for the justice of all who are dispossessed. # Lit all the sons of passing away
9Speak up, # Lit Open your mouth judge righteously, # Lv 19:15; Dt 1:16
and defend the cause of # Lit and justice for the oppressed and needy. # Is 1:17; Jr 22:16
In Praise of a Capable Wife
10Who can find a capable wife? # Or a wife of quality, or a wife of noble character # Ru 3:11; Pr 12:4; 18:22; 19:14
She is far more precious than jewels. # Vv. 10-31 form an acrostic.
11The heart of her husband trusts in her,
and he will not lack anything good.
12She rewards him with good, not evil,
all the days of her life.
13She selects wool and flax
and works with willing hands.
14She is like the merchant ships,
bringing her food from far away. # 1Kg 10:22
15She rises while it is still night # Pr 20:13
and provides food for her household
and portions # Or tasks for her female servants. # Pr 27:27; Lk 12:42
16She evaluates a field and buys it;
she plants a vineyard with her earnings. # Or vineyard by her own labors # Mt 21:33
17She draws on her strength # Lit She wraps strength around her like a belt
and reveals that her arms are strong. # Pr 31:25
18She sees that her profits are good,
and her lamp never goes out at night. # Mt 25:8
19She extends her hands to the spinning staff,
and her hands hold the spindle. # Pr 31:13
20Her hands reach # Lit Her hand reaches out to the poor,
and she extends her hands to the needy. # Dt 15:11; Pr 22:9; 31:9; Rm 12:13; Eph 4:28
21She is not afraid for her household when it snows,
for all in her household are doubly clothed. # LXX, Vg; MT reads are dressed in scarlet
22She makes her own bed coverings; # Pr 7:16
her clothing is fine linen # Gn 41:42; Rv 19:8,14 and purple. # Jdg 8:26; Lk 16:19
23Her husband is known at the city gates,
where he sits among the elders of the land. # Ru 4:1-2; Pr 24:7; 31:31
24She makes and sells linen garments;
she delivers belts # Or sashes to the merchants.
25Strength # Pr 31:17 and honor are her clothing, # 1Tm 2:9-10
and she can laugh at the time to come. # Pr 31:21
26She opens her mouth with wisdom
and loving instruction # Or and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue.
27She watches over the activities of her household # Pr 31:15
and is never idle. # Lit and does not eat the bread of idleness
28Her sons rise up and call her blessed.
Her husband also praises her:
29“Many women # Lit daughters are capable,
but you surpass them all! ” # Pr 12:4; 31:10; Sg 6:8-9
30Charm is deceptive and beauty is fleeting, # 1Pt 3:3-4
but a woman who fears the Lord will be praised.
31Give her the reward of her labor, # Lit the fruit of her hands
and let her works praise her at the city gates.
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