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
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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