Proverbs 31
31
Sayings of King Lemuel
1The sayings of King Lemuel—an inspired utterance his mother taught him.
2Listen, my son! Listen, son of my womb!
Listen, my son, the answer to my prayers!
3Do not spend your strength#31:3 Or wealth on women,
your vigor on those who ruin kings.
4It is not for kings, Lemuel—
it is not for kings to drink wine,
not for rulers to crave beer,
5lest they drink and forget what has been decreed,
and deprive all the oppressed of their rights.
6Let beer be for those who are perishing,
wine for those who are in anguish!
7Let them drink and forget their poverty
and remember their misery no more.
8Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves,
for the rights of all who are destitute.
9Speak up and judge fairly;
defend the rights of the poor and needy.
Epilogue: The Wife of Noble Character
10 # 31:10 Verses 10-31 are an acrostic poem, the verses of which begin with the successive letters of the Hebrew alphabet. A wife of noble character who can find?
She is worth far more than rubies.
11Her husband has full confidence in her
and lacks nothing of value.
12She brings him good, not harm,
all the days of her life.
13She selects wool and flax
and works with eager hands.
14She is like the merchant ships,
bringing her food from afar.
15She gets up while it is still night;
she provides food for her family
and portions for her female servants.
16She considers a field and buys it;
out of her earnings she plants a vineyard.
17She sets about her work vigorously;
her arms are strong for her tasks.
18She sees that her trading is profitable,
and her lamp does not go out at night.
19In her hand she holds the distaff
and grasps the spindle with her fingers.
20She opens her arms to the poor
and extends her hands to the needy.
21When it snows, she has no fear for her household;
for all of them are clothed in scarlet.
22She makes coverings for her bed;
she is clothed in fine linen and purple.
23Her husband is respected at the city gate,
where he takes his seat among the elders of the land.
24She makes linen garments and sells them,
and supplies the merchants with sashes.
25She is clothed with strength and dignity;
she can laugh at the days to come.
26She speaks with wisdom,
and faithful instruction is on her tongue.
27She watches over the affairs of her household
and does not eat the bread of idleness.
28Her children arise and call her blessed;
her husband also, and he praises her:
29“Many women do noble things,
but you surpass them all.”
30Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting;
but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.
31Honor her for all that her hands have done,
and let her works bring her praise at the city gate.
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Proverbs 31: NIV
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The Holy Bible, New International Version® NIV®
Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.®
Used by Permission of Biblica, Inc.® All rights reserved worldwide.
Proverbs 31
31
1The words of king Lemuel; the oracle which his mother taught him.
2What, my son? and what, O son of my womb?
And what, O son of my vows?
3Give not thy strength unto women,
Nor thy ways to that which destroyeth kings.
4It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine;
Nor for princes to say, Where is strong drink?
5Lest they drink, and forget the law,
And pervert the justice due to any that is afflicted.
6Give strong drink unto him that is ready to perish,
And wine unto the bitter in soul:
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 left desolate.
9Open thy mouth, judge righteously,
And minister justice to the poor and needy.
10A worthy woman who can find?
For her price is far above rubies.
11The heart of her husband trusteth in her,
And he shall have no lack of gain.
12She doeth 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 merchant-ships;
She bringeth her bread from afar.
15She riseth also while it is yet night,
And giveth food to her household,
And their task 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 maketh strong her arms.
18She perceiveth that her merchandise is profitable;
Her lamp goeth not out by night.
19She layeth her hands to the distaff,
And her hands hold the spindle.
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 for herself carpets of tapestry;
Her clothing is fine linen and purple.
23Her husband is known in the gates,
When he sitteth among the elders of the land.
24She maketh linen garments and selleth them,
And delivereth girdles unto the merchant.
25Strength and dignity are her clothing;
And she laugheth at the time to come.
26She openeth her mouth with wisdom;
And the law of kindness is on her tongue.
27She looketh well to the ways of her household,
And eateth not the bread of idleness.
28Her children rise up, and call her blessed;
Her husband also, and he praiseth her, saying:
29Many daughters have done worthily,
But thou excellest them all.
30Grace is deceitful, and beauty is vain;
But a woman that feareth Jehovah, she shall be praised.
31Give her of the fruit of her hands;
And let her works praise her in the gates.
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