Proverbs 31
31
1These are the words of King Lemuel, an oracle, taught to him by his mother.
2What shall I tell you, my son?—the son I gave birth to, the son given in response to my vows.
3Don't waste your strength sleeping#31:3. “Sleeping” implied. with women, those that bring down kings.
4Lemuel, kings shouldn't be drinking wine, rulers shouldn't be drinking alcohol.#31:4. “Alcohol”: literally, “strong drink.”
5For if they drink, they'll forget what the law says, and pervert the rights of those who are suffering.
6Give alcohol to those who are dying, and wine to those who are in terrible distress.
7Let them drink so they can forget their poverty, and not remember their troubles any longer.
8Speak up for those who have no voice, for the rights of those marginalized by society.
9Speak up and judge fairly; defend the poor and destitute.
10Who can find a strong, capable wife? She's worth more than jewels!#31:10. “Jewels”: though often translated as “rubies,” it seems that they were not known at this time. The red jewels were likely to be carnelian or red coral.
11Her husband has complete confidence in her, and with her he'll never be poor.
12She brings him good, not evil, all her life.
13She gets wool and flax, and with her eager hands turns them into clothes.
14Like a merchant's ship, she brings food from far away.
15She gets up while it's still dark to make breakfast for her family, and to plan what her servant girls need to do.
16She looks at a field, and decides to buy it; from the money she's earned she buys a vineyard.
17She's keen to get ready, and works hard with her strong arms.
18She knows that the things she makes are valuable. She keeps busy—her lamp burns late into the night.
19She spins the thread and weaves the cloth.#31:19. The Hebrew refers to the distaff and spindle used in spinning and weaving, but not much known in modern life.
20She's generous to the poor, and gives help to the needy.
21She doesn't worry if it snows, because her whole family has warm#31:21. “Warm” following the implications of the Septuagint reading. Hebrew has “scarlet,” simply meaning expensive clothing. clothing.
22She makes herself bedspreads; she dresses in fine linen and purple clothes.
23Her husband is well-respected in the council at the town gates, where he sits with the town elders.
24She makes linen clothes for sale, and supplies merchants with belts.
25She's clothed with strength and dignity, and she is happy about the future.
26She speaks wise words, and she's kind when she gives instructions.
27She looks after the needs of her whole household, and she's never idle.
28Her children are quick to bless her. Her husband praises her too, saying,
29“Many women do great things, but you are better than all of them!”
30Charm can deceive, and beauty fades, but a woman who honors the Lord should be praised.
31Give her the recognition she deserves; praise her publicly for what she's done.
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Dr. Jonathan Gallagher. Released under Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 Unported License. Version 4.3. For corrections send email to jonathangallagherfbv@gmail.com
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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