Proverbs 31
31
The Teachings of King Lemuel’s Mother
1The words of King Lemuel. An oracle that his mother taught him:
2What, my son? And what, son of my womb? # Isa 49:15
And what, son of my vows? # 1Sa 1:11
3Do not give your strength to women, # Dt 17:17; Ne 13:26
nor your ways to those who destroy kings.
4It is not for kings, O Lemuel,
it is not for kings to drink wine,
nor for kings to crave strong drink, # Pr 20:1; Ecc 10:17
5lest they drink and forget the law,
and pervert the justice of all the afflicted.
6Give strong drink to him who is perishing,
and wine to those who are bitter in soul; # 1Ti 5:23
7let him drink and forget his poverty,
and remember his misery no more.
8Speak out for the mute,
for the cause of all who are sons of destitution. # Ps 82:3–4
9Speak out, judge righteously, # Lev 19:15; Dt 1:16
plead the cause of the poor and needy.
Epilogue: The Virtuous Wife
10Who can find a virtuous wife? # Ru 3:11; Pr 12:4
Her worth is far above rubies.
11The heart of her husband trusts in her;
so he will have no lack of gain.
12She does him good, and not harm,
all the days of her life.
13She seeks wool and flax,
and willingly works with her hands.
14She is like the ships of the merchant;
she brings her food from afar.
15She rises while it is yet night, # Ro 12:11
and provides food for her household,
and a portion for her servant girls. # Lk 12:42
16She considers a field and buys it;
with the fruit of her hands she plants a vineyard.
17She girds herself with strength
and strengthens her arms. # 1Ki 18:46; 2Ki 4:29
18She perceives that her merchandise is profitable;
her lamp does not go out at night.
19She puts her hands to the distaff,
and her fingers lay hold of the spindle.
20She extends her palms to the poor
and reaches out her hands to the needy. # Job 31:16–20; Eph 4:28
21She is not afraid of the snow for her household,
for all her household are clothed in scarlet.
22She makes tapestry for herself;
her clothing is fine linen and purple. # Ge 41:42; Pr 7:16
23Her husband is known in the city gates,
when he sits among the elders of the land. # Dt 16:18; Ru 4:1
24She makes linen garments and sells them,
and delivers sashes to the merchant.
25Strength and dignity are her clothing, # 1Ti 2:10
and her smile is toward the coming day.
26She opens her mouth with wisdom,
and on her tongue is the teaching of kindness.
27She watches well over the ways of her household,
and does not eat the bread of idleness.
28Her children rise up, and call her blessed;
her husband also, and he praises her:
29“Many wives have done virtuously,
but you surpass them all.”
30Charm is deceitful, and beauty is fleeting,
but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.
31Give her of the fruit of her hands,
and let her works praise her in the city gates.
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The Holy Bible, Modern English Version
Copyright © 2024, 2017, 2014 by United Bible Association. Published and distributed by Charisma House. All rights reserved.
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 judgement of 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 judgement to the poor and needy.
10A virtuous 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 food from afar.
15She riseth also while it is yet night,
And giveth meat 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 spreadeth 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 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 works praise her in the gates.
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