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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Copyright© 1993 – 2015 by the Institute for Scripture Research (ISR). All rights reserved.
Proverbs 31
31
1The words of king Lemuel, the prophecy that his mother taught him: 2What, my son? and what, O son of my womb? and what, O son of my vows? 3Give not thy strength unto women, nor thy ways to them that destroy kings. 4It is not for kings, Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine, nor for rulers to say, Where is the strong drink? 5— lest they drink and forget the law, and pervert the judgment of any of the children of affliction. 6Give strong drink unto him that is ready to perish, and wine unto the bitter of soul: 7let him drink, and forget his poverty, and remember his misery no more. 8Open thy mouth for the dumb, for the cause of all those that are left desolate. 9Open thy mouth, judge righteously, and minister justice to the afflicted and needy.
10Who can find a woman of worth? for her price is far above rubies. 11The heart of her husband confideth in her, and he shall have no lack of spoil. 12She doeth him good, and not evil, all the days of her life. 13She seeketh wool and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands. 14She is like the merchants' ships: she bringeth her food from afar; 15And she riseth while it is yet night, and giveth meat to her household, and the day's work to her maidens. 16She considereth a field, and acquireth it; of the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard. 17She girdeth her loins with strength, and maketh strong her arms. 18She perceiveth that her earning is good; her lamp goeth not out by night. 19She putteth her hands to the distaff, and her hands hold the spindle. 20She stretcheth out her hand to the afflicted, and she reacheth forth her hands to the needy. 21She is not afraid of the snow for her household; for all her household are clothed with scarlet. 22She maketh herself coverlets; her clothing is byssus and purple. 23Her husband is known in the gates, when he sitteth among the elders of the land. 24She maketh body linen and selleth it, and delivereth girdles unto the merchant. 25Strength and dignity are her clothing, and she laugheth at the coming day. 26She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and upon her tongue is the law of kindness. 27She surveyeth the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness. 28Her children rise up and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her: 29Many daughters have done worthily, but thou excellest them all. 30Gracefulness is deceitful and beauty is vain; a woman that feareth Jehovah, she shall be praised. 31Give her of the fruit of her hands, and let her own works praise her in the gates.
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First published in 1890. This edition is maintained by the British and Foreign Bible Society.