Proverbs 31
31
Wise Words of King Lemuel
1These are the words of King Lemuel. This is the message his mother taught him:
2“My son, I gave birth to you.
You are the son I prayed for.
3Don’t waste your strength on women.
Don’t waste your time on those who ruin kings.
4“Kings should not drink wine, Lemuel.
Rulers should not desire beer.
5If they drink, they might forget the law.
They might keep the needy from getting their rights.
6Give beer to people who are dying.
And give wine to those who are sad.
7Let them drink and forget their need.
Then they won’t remember their misery anymore.
8“Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves.
Defend the rights of all those who have nothing.
9Speak up and judge fairly.
Defend the rights of the poor and needy.”
The Good Wife
10It is hard to find an excellent wife.
She is worth more than rubies.
11Her husband trusts her completely.
With her, he has everything he needs.
12She does him good and not harm
for as long as she lives.
13She looks for wool and linen.
She likes to work with her hands.
14She is like a trader’s ship.
She goes far to get food.
15She gets up while it is still dark.
She prepares food for her family.
She also feeds her servant girls.
16She looks at a field and buys it.
With money she has earned, she plants a vineyard.
17She does her work with energy.
Her arms are strong.
18She makes sure that what she makes is good.
She works by her lamp late into the night.
19She makes thread with her hands
and weaves her own cloth.
20She welcomes the poor.
She helps the needy.
21She does not worry about her family when it snows.
They all have fine clothes to keep them warm.
22She makes coverings for her bed.
Her clothes are made of linen and other expensive material.
23Her husband is recognized at the city meetings.
He makes decisions as one of the leaders of the land.
24She makes linen clothes and sells them.
She provides belts to the merchants.
25She is strong and is respected by the people.
She looks forward to the future with joy.
26She speaks wise words.
And she teaches others to be kind.
27She watches over her family.
And she is always busy.
28Her children bless her.
Her husband also praises her.
29He says, “There are many excellent wives,
but you are better than all of them.”
30Charm can fool you, and beauty can trick you.
But a woman who respects the Lord should be praised.
31Give her the reward she has earned.
She should be openly praised for what she has done.
Proverbs 21
Proverbs 25
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Copyright © 2015 by Tommy Nelson™, a Division of Thomas Nelson, Inc. All rights reserved. Used by permission.
Proverbs 31
31
1The sayings of King Lemuel, a prophetic revelation, used by his mother to discipline him.
Advice to a Prince
2“What, my son?
What, son to whom I gave birth?
What, son of my prayers?
3Don’t give your strength to women
or your power to those who ruin kings.
4“It is not for kings, Lemuel.
It is not for kings to drink wine or for rulers to crave liquor.
5Otherwise, they drink and forget what they have decreed
and change the standard of justice for all oppressed people.
6Give liquor to a person who is dying
and wine to one who feels resentful.
7Such a person drinks
and forgets his poverty
and does not remember his trouble anymore.
8“Speak out for the one who cannot speak,
for the rights of those who are doomed.
9Speak out,
judge fairly,
and defend the rights of oppressed and needy people.”
A Poem in Hebrew Alphabetical Order
10“Who can find a wife with a strong character?
She is worth far more than jewels.
11Her husband trusts her with ⌞all⌟ his heart,
and he does not lack anything good.
12She helps him and never harms him all the days of her life.
13“She seeks out wool and linen ⌞with care⌟
and works with willing hands.
14She is like merchant ships.
She brings her food from far away.
15She wakes up while it is still dark
and gives food to her family
and portions of food to her female slaves.
16“She picks out a field and buys it.
She plants a vineyard from the profits she has earned.
17She puts on strength like a belt
and goes to work with energy.
18She sees that she is making a good profit.
Her lamp burns late at night.
19“She puts her hands on the distaff,
and her fingers hold a spindle.
20She opens her hands to oppressed people
and stretches them out to needy people.
21She does not fear for her family when it snows
because her whole family
has a double layer of clothing.
22She makes quilts for herself.
Her clothes are ⌞made of⌟ linen and purple cloth.
23“Her husband is known at the city gates
when he sits with the leaders of the land.
24“She makes linen garments and sells them
and delivers belts to the merchants.
25She dresses with strength and nobility,
and she smiles at the future.
26“She speaks with wisdom,
and on her tongue there is tender instruction.
27She keeps a close eye on the conduct of her family,
and she does not eat the bread of idleness.
28Her children and her husband
stand up and bless her.
In addition, he sings her praises, by saying,
29‘Many women have done noble work,
but you have surpassed them all!’
30“Charm is deceptive, and beauty evaporates,
⌞but⌟ a woman who has the fear of the Lord should be praised.
31Reward her for what she has done,
and let her achievements praise her at the city gates.”
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GOD'S WORD® Translation ©1995, 2003, 2013, 2014, 2019, 2020 by God's Word to the Nations Mission Society. All rights reserved.