Proverbs 31
31
Advice to a King
1These are the solemn words which King Lemuel's mother said to him:
2“You are my own dear son, the answer to my prayers. What shall I tell you? 3Don't spend all your energy on sex and all your money on women; they have destroyed kings. 4Listen, Lemuel. Kings should not drink wine or have a craving for alcohol. 5When they drink, they forget the laws and ignore the rights of people in need. 6Alcohol is for people who are dying, for those who are in misery. 7Let them drink and forget their poverty and unhappiness.
8“Speak up for people who cannot speak for themselves. Protect the rights of all who are helpless. 9Speak for them and be a righteous judge. Protect the rights of the poor and needy.”
The Capable Wife
10How hard it is to find a capable wife! She is worth far more than jewels!
11Her husband puts his confidence in her, and he will never be poor.
12As long as she lives, she does him good and never harm.
13She keeps herself busy making wool and linen cloth.
14She brings home food from out-of-the-way places, as merchant ships do.
15She gets up before daylight to prepare food for her family and to tell her servant women what to do.
16She looks at land and buys it, and with money she has earned she plants a vineyard.
17She is a hard worker, strong and industrious.
18She knows the value of everything she makes, and works late into the night.
19She spins her own thread and weaves her own cloth.
20She is generous to the poor and needy.
21She doesn't worry when it snows, because her family has warm clothing.
22She makes bedspreads and wears clothes of fine purple linen.
23Her husband is well known, one of the leading citizens.
24She makes clothes and belts, and sells them to merchants.
25She is strong and respected and not afraid of the future.
26She speaks with a gentle wisdom.
27She is always busy and looks after her family's needs.
28Her children show their appreciation, and her husband praises her.
29He says, “Many women are good wives, but you are the best of them all.”
30Charm is deceptive and beauty disappears, but a woman who honours the LORD should be praised.
31Give her credit for all she does. She deserves the respect of everyone.
Currently Selected:
Proverbs 31: GNBUK
Highlight
Share
Copy
Want to have your highlights saved across all your devices? Sign up or sign in
Good News Bible. Scripture taken from the Good News Bible (r) (Today's English Version Second Edition, UK/British Edition). Copyright © 1992 British & Foreign Bible Society. Used by permission.
Mishlĕ (Proverbs) 31
31
1The words of Sovereign Lemu’ĕl, a message which his mother taught him:
2What, my chosen? And what, chosen of my womb? And what, chosen of my vows?
3Do not give your strength to women, Nor your ways to wiping away sovereigns.
4Not for sovereigns, O Lemu’ĕl, Not for sovereigns to drink wine, Nor for princes to desire strong drink;
5Lest they drink and forget what is inscribed, And pervert the right of all the afflicted.
6Give strong drink to him who is perishing, And wine to those embittered in being.
7Let him drink and forget his poverty, And remember his trouble no more.
8Open your mouth for the dumb, In the cause of all the sons of the departed.
9Open your mouth, judge righteously, And plead the cause of the poor and needy.
10Who does find a capable wife? For she is worth far more than rubies.
11The heart of her husband shall trust her, And he has no lack of gain.
12She shall do him good, and not evil, All the days of her life.
13She shall seek wool and flax, And with delight she works with her hands.
14She shall be as the ships of Tarshish, She brings in her food from afar.
15She also rises while it is still night, And provides food for her household, And what is lawfull for her girls.
16She shall consider a field and buy it; From her profits she shall plant a vineyard.
17She shall gird herself with strength, And strengthen her arms.
18She shall taste when her gain is good; Her lamp does not go out by night.
19She shall stretch out her hands to the distaff, And her hand shall hold the spindle.
20She shall extend her hand to the poor, And she shall reach out her hands to the needy.
21She is not afraid of snow for her household, For all her household is dressed in scarlet.
22She shall make tapestry for herself; She is dressed in fine linen and purple.
23Her husband is known in the gates, When he sits among the elders of the land.
24She shall make fine linen and sell them, And shall give girdles for the merchants.
25Strength and splendour are her garments, And she rejoices in time to come.
26She shall open her mouth with wisdom, And on her tongue is the Torah of loving-commitment.
27She watches over the ways of her household, And does not eat the bread of idleness.
28Her children shall rise up and call her blessed; Her husband too, and he praises her:
29“Many daughters have done nobly, But you have risen over them all.”
30Loveliness is deceptive And prettiness is vain, A woman who fears יהוה is to be praised.
31Give her of the fruit of her hands, And let her works praise her in the gates.
Currently Selected:
:
Highlight
Share
Copy
Want to have your highlights saved across all your devices? Sign up or sign in
Copyright© 1993 – 2015 by the Institute for Scripture Research (ISR). All rights reserved.