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.
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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.
Proverbs 31
31
The Oracle of King Lemuel
1The words of Lemuel, the king—an oracle
that his mother taught him:
2What, my son? And what, my son in my womb?
And what, son of my vows?
3Do not give your strength to the women,
and your ways to destroy kings.
4It is not for the kings, O Lemuel;
drinking wine is not for the kings,
nor is strong drink for rulers.
5Or else he will drink and forget what has been decreed,
and he will pervert the rights#Hebrew “right” of all the afflicted.#Literally “sons of affliction”
6Give strong drink to him who is perishing,
and wine to those in bitter distress.#Literally “to bitterness of soul”
7He will drink and forget his poverty,
and his misery he will not remember any more.
8Open your mouth for the mute,
for the rights#Hebrew “right” of all the needy.#Literally “the sons of the needy”
9Open your mouth, judge righteousness,
and defend the poor and needy.
An Excellent Woman#Prov 31:10–31 is an acrostic poem
10A woman#Or “wife” of excellence,#Or “strength,” or “valor,” or “ability,” or “efficiency” who will find?
For her worth is far more than precious jewels.
11The heart of her husband#Or “lord” trusts in her,
and gain he will not lack.
12She does him good, but not harm
all the days of her life.
13She seeks wool and flax,
and she works with the diligence of her hands.#Literally “her palms”
14She is like the ships of a merchant;
from far off she brings her food;#Or “bread”
15And she arises while it is still night,
and gives food to her household,
and tasks to her servant girls.
16She considers a field and buys it,
from the fruit of her hand#Literally “her palm” she plants a vineyard.
17She girds her waist in strength,
and makes her arms strong.
18She perceives that her merchandise is good;
her lamp does not go out in the night.
19Her hands she puts onto the distaff,#A stick or spindle onto which wool or flax is wound in preparation for spinning
and her palms hold a spindle.
20Her palm she opens to the poor,
and her hand she reaches out to the needy.
21She does not fear for her house when it snows,
for her entire household#Literally “all her house, household” is clothed in crimson.
22She makes for herself coverings;
her clothing is fine linen and purple.
23Her husband#Or “lord” is known at the gates,
in his seat among the elders of the land.
24Linen garments she makes and sells,
and she supplies sashes for the merchants.
25Strength and dignity are her clothing,
and she laughs at the future.#Literally “to the day/time coming after”
26She opens her mouth with wisdom,
and instruction of kindness is upon her tongue.
27She looks after the ways of her household,
and the bread of idleness she will not eat.
28Her children rise and consider her happy,
her husband#Or “lord” also, and he praises her;
29“Many daughters have done excellence,#Or “strength,” or “valor,” or “ability,” or “efficiency”
but you surpass#Literally “you ascend over” all of them.”
30Charm#Hebrew “The charm” is deceit and beauty#Hebrew “the beauty” is vain;#Or “vapor,” or “emptiness,” or “breath”
but a woman who fears Yahweh shall be praised.
31Give to her from the fruit of her hand,
and may they praise her works in the city gates.
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