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.
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Mishlĕ (Proverbs) 31: TS2009
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Mishle 31
31
1The devarim of Lemuel Melech, the massa (burden, oracle) that immo taught him.
2What, my bar (son)?#31:2 See Ps 2:12 And what, the bar of my womb? And what, the bar of my nedarim (vows)?
3Give not thy strength unto nashim, nor thy drakhim to that which destroyeth melachim.
4It is not for melachim, O Lemuel, it is not for melachim to drink yayin; nor for rulers to crave strong drink;
5Lest they drink, and forget the decree, and pervert the justice of the bnei oni (all the oppressed afflicted people).
6Give strong drink unto him that is ready to perish, and yayin unto those that be of bitter nefesh.
7Let him drink, and forget his poverty, and remember his amal (misery) no more.
8Open thy peh (mouth) for the illem (mute) in the cause of all such as are bnei chalof (sons of destitution).
9Open thy peh (mouth), judge tzedek, and plead the cause of the oni and the evyon.
10Who can find an aishes chayil (a woman of valor, an excellent wife)?#31:10 Prov 12:4 For her worth is far above rubies.
11The lev of her ba'al (husband) doth securely trust in her, so that he shall have no lack of gain.
12She will do him tov and not rah all the days of her life.
13She seeketh tzemer (wool), and flax, and worketh willingly with her palms.
14She is like the oniyyot socher (ship merchant); she bringeth her lechem from afar.
15She riseth also while it is yet lailah, and provideth food to her bais, and a chok (portion) to her na'arot (servant girls).
16She considereth a sadeh, and buyeth it; with the fruit of her palms she planteth a kerem (vineyard).
17She girdeth her loins with strength, and strengtheneth her zero'ot (arms).
18She perceiveth that her merchandise is tov; her ner (light) goeth not out balailah.
19She layeth her yadayim to the distaff, and her fingers lay hold of the spindle.
20She extends her palms to the oni; indeed, she reacheth forth her yadayim to the evyon (needy).
21She is not afraid of the sheleg (snow) for her bais; for all her bais are clothed with scarlet.
22She maketh herself coverings of tapestry; her levush (clothing) is fine linen and purple.
23Her ba'al (husband) is known in the she'arim, when he sitteth among the ziknei eretz.
24She maketh fine garments, and selleth them; and delivereth sashes unto the kena'ani (merchant).
25Oz (strength) and hadar (dignity) are her clothing; and her smile is toward the yom acharon (coming day, future).
26She openeth her peh (mouth) with chochmah; and on her lashon is the torat chesed (teaching of kindness).
27She watcheth well over the halichot (goings, ways) of her bais (household), and eateth not the lechem atzlut (bread of idleness).
28Her banim rise up, and call her blessed; her ba'al (husband) also, and he praiseth her.
29Rabbot banot have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all.
30Chen (charm) is sheker (deceitful), and yofi (beauty) is fleeting; but an isha Yirat Hashem (a G-d fearing wife), she shall be praised.
31Give her of the p'ri (fruit) of her yadayim; and let her own ma'asim praise her in the she'arim.
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