Proverbs 31
31
1 The words of King Lemuel—the revelation which his mother taught him:
2“Oh, my son!
Oh, son of my womb!
Oh, son of my vows!
3Don’t give your strength to women,
nor your ways to that which destroys kings.
4 It is not for kings, Lemuel,
it is not for kings to drink wine,
nor for princes to say, ‘Where is strong drink?’
5 lest they drink, and forget the decree,
and pervert the justice due to anyone who is afflicted.
6 Give strong drink to him who is ready to perish,
and wine to the bitter in soul.
7 Let him drink, and forget his poverty,
and remember his misery no more.
8 Open your mouth for the mute,
in the cause of all who are left desolate.
9 Open your mouth, judge righteously,
and serve justice to the poor and needy.”
10 # 31:10 Proverbs 31:10-31 form an acrostic, with each verse starting with each letter of the Hebrew alphabet, in order. Who can find a worthy woman?
For her value is far above rubies.
11 The heart of her husband trusts in her.
He shall have no lack of gain.
12 She does him good, and not harm,
all the days of her life.
13 She seeks wool and flax,
and works eagerly with her hands.
14She is like the merchant ships.
She brings her bread from afar.
15 She rises also while it is yet night,
gives food to her household,
and portions for her servant girls.
16 She considers a field, and buys it.
With the fruit of her hands, she plants a vineyard.
17She arms her waist with strength,
and makes her arms strong.
18 She perceives that her merchandise is profitable.
Her lamp doesn’t go out by night.
19 She lays her hands to the distaff,
and her hands hold the spindle.
20 She opens her arms to the poor;
yes, she extends her hands to the needy.
21 She is not afraid of the snow for her household,
for all her household are clothed with scarlet.
22She makes for herself carpets of tapestry.
Her clothing is fine linen and purple.
23 Her husband is respected in the gates,
when he sits among the elders of the land.
24She makes linen garments and sells them,
and delivers sashes to the merchant.
25 Strength and dignity are her clothing.
She laughs at the time to come.
26 She opens her mouth with wisdom.
Kind instruction is on her tongue.
27 She looks well to the ways of her household,
and doesn’t eat the bread of idleness.
28 Her children rise up and call her blessed.
Her husband also praises her:
29“Many women do noble things,
but you excel them all.”
30 Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain;
but a woman who fears the LORD, she shall be praised.
31 Give her of the fruit of her hands!
Let her works praise her in the gates!
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Mishlei (Pro) 31
31
1The words of King L’mu’el, the prophecy with which his mother disciplined him:
2No, my son! No, son of my womb!
No, son of my vows!
3Don’t give your strength to women
or your ways to that which destroys kings.
4It is not for kings, L’mu’el,
not for kings to drink wine;
it is not for rulers to ask,
“Where can I find strong liquor?”
5For they may drink, then forget what has been decreed,
and pervert the justice due to the poor.
6Give strong liquor to one who is perishing,
wine to the deeply depressed;
7let him drink, forget his poverty
and cease to remember his troubles.
8Speak up for those who can’t speak for themselves,
for the rights of all who need an advocate.
9Speak up, judge righteously,
defend the cause of the poor and the needy.
א 10Who can find a capable wife?
Her value is far beyond that of pearls.
ב 11Her husband trusts her from his heart,
and she will prove a great asset to him.
ג 12She works to bring him good, not harm,
all the days of her life.
ד 13She procures a supply of wool and flax
and works with willing hands.
ה 14She is like those merchant vessels,
bringing her food from far away.
ו 15It’s still dark when she rises to give food to her household
and orders to the young women serving her.
ז 16She considers a field, then buys it,
and from her earnings she plants a vineyard.
ח 17She gathers her strength around her
and throws herself into her work.
ט 18She sees that her business affairs go well;
her lamp stays lit at night.
י 19She puts her hands to the staff with the flax;
her fingers hold the spinning rod.
כ 20She reaches out to embrace the poor
and opens her arms to the needy.
ל 21When it snows, she has no fear for her household;
since all of them are doubly clothed.
מ 22She makes her own quilts;
she is clothed in fine linen and purple.
נ 23Her husband is known at the city gates
when he sits with the leaders of the land.
ס 24She makes linen garments and sells them;
she supplies the merchants with sashes.
ע 25Clothed with strength and dignity,
she can laugh at the days to come.
פ 26When she opens her mouth, she speaks wisely;
on her tongue is loving instruction.
צ 27She watches how things go in her house,
not eating the bread of idleness.
ק 28Her children arise; they make her happy;
her husband too, as he praises her:
ר 29“Many women have done wonderful things,
but you surpass them all!”
ש 30Charm can lie, beauty can vanish,
but a woman who fears Adonai should be praised.
ת 31Give her a share in what she produces;
let her works speak her praises at the city gates.
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