Proverbs 31
31
The Words of Lemuel
1The words of King Lemuel,
a pronouncement#31:1 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, he will drink,
forget what is decreed,#Hs 4:11
and pervert justice for all the oppressed.#31:5 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#31:8 Lit Open your mouth, also in v. 9 for those who have no voice,#31:8 Lit who are mute#Jb 29:12–17
for the justice of all who are dispossessed.#31:8 Lit all the sons of passing away
9Speak up, judge righteously,#Lv 19:15; Dt 1:16
and defend the cause of the oppressed and needy.#Is 1:17; Jr 22:16
In Praise of a Wife of Noble Character
10Who can find a wife of noble character?#31:10 Or a wife of quality, or a capable wife#Ru 3:11; Pr 12:4; 18:22; 19:14
She is far more precious than jewels.#31:10 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#31:15 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.#31:16 Or vineyard by her own labors#Mt 21:33
17She draws on her strength#31:17 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#31:20 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.#31:21 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#31:24 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
26Her mouth speaks wisdom,
and loving instruction#31:26 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.#31:27 Lit and does not eat the bread of idleness
28Her children rise up and call her blessed;
her husband also praises her:
29“Many women#31:29 Lit daughters have done noble deeds,
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,#31:31 Lit the fruit of her hands
and let her works praise her at the city gates.
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© 2017 Holman Bible Publishers
Proverbs 31
31
1 The words of king Lamuel. The vision by which his mother instructed him:
2 "What, O my beloved? What, O beloved of my womb? What, O beloved of my vows?
3 Do not give your substance to women, or your riches to overthrow kings.
4 Not to kings, O Lamuel, not to kings give wine. For there are no secrets where drunkenness reigns.
5 And perhaps they may drink and forget judgments, and alter the case of the sons of the poor.
6 Give strong drink to the grieving, and wine to those who are bitter in soul.
7 Let them drink, and forget their needs, and remember their sorrow no more.
8 Open your mouth for the mute and for all the cases of the sons who are passing through.
9 Open your mouth, declare what is just, and do justice to the indigent and the poor.
10 Who shall find a strong woman? Far away, and from the furthest parts, is her price.
11 The heart of her husband confides in her, and he will not be deprived of spoils.
12 She will repay him with good, and not evil, all the days of her life.
13 She has sought wool and flax, and she has worked these by the counsel of her hands.
14 She has become like a merchant's ship, bringing her bread from far away.
15 And she has risen in the night, and given a prey to her household, and provisions to her maids.
16 She has considered a field and bought it. From the fruit of her own hands, she has planted a vineyard.
17 She has wrapped her waist with fortitude, and she has strengthened her arm.
18 She has tasted and seen that her tasks are good; her lamp shall not be extinguished at night.
19 She has put her hand to strong things, and her fingers have taken hold of the spindle.
20 She has opened her hand to the needy, and she has extended her hands to the poor.
21 She shall not fear, in the cold of snow, for her household. For all those of her household have been clothed two-fold.
22 She has made embroidered clothing for herself. Fine linen and purple is her garment.
23 Her husband is noble at the gates, when he sits among the senators of the land.
24 She has made finely woven cloth and sold it, and she has delivered a waistband to the Canaanite.
25 Strength and elegance are her clothing, and she will laugh in the final days.
26 She has opened her mouth to wisdom, and the law of clemency is on her tongue.
27 She has considered the paths of her household, and she has not eaten her bread in idleness.
28 Her sons rose up and predicted great happiness; her husband rose up and praised her.
29 Many daughters have gathered together riches; you have surpassed them all.
30 Charm is false, and beauty is vain. The woman who fears the Lord, the same shall be praised.
31 Give to her from the fruit of her own hands. And let her works praise her at the gates.
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