Proverbs 31
31
Words of King Lemuel
1The words of King Lemuel of Massa, which his mother taught him:
2No, my son!
No, son of my womb!
No, son of my solemn promises!
3Don’t give your strength to women,
your ways to those who wipe out kings.
4It isn’t for kings, Lemuel,
it isn’t for kings to drink wine,
for rulers to crave#31.4 Or where or or strong drink.
5Otherwise, they will drink and forget the law,
and violate the rights of the needy.
6Give strong drink to those who are perishing
and wine to those whose hearts are bitter.
7Let them drink and forget their poverty
and no longer remember their toil.
8Speak out on behalf of the voiceless,
and for the rights of all who are vulnerable.#31.8 Or all children who are passing away
9Speak out in order to judge with righteousness
and to defend the needy and the poor.
The competent wife
10A competent wife, how does one find her?
Her value is far above pearls.
11Her husband entrusts his heart to her,
and with her he will have all he needs.
12She brings him good and not trouble
all the days of her life.
13She seeks out wool and flax;
she works joyfully with her hands.
14She is like a fleet of merchant ships,
bringing food from a distance.
15She gets up while it is still night,
providing food for her household,
even some for her female servants.
16She surveys a field and acquires it;
from her own resources, she plants a vineyard.
17She works energetically;
her arms are powerful.
18She realizes that her trading is successful;
she doesn’t put out her lamp at night.
19She puts her hands to the spindle;
her palms grasp the whorl.
20She reaches out to the needy;
she stretches out her hands to the poor.
21She doesn’t fear for her household when it snows,
because they are all dressed in warm#31.21 LXX; MT red clothes.
22She makes bedspreads for herself;
fine linen and purple are her clothing.
23Her husband is known in the city gates
when he sits with the elders of the land.
24She makes garments and sells them;
she supplies sashes to traders.
25Strength and honor are her clothing;
she is confident about the future.
26Her mouth is full of wisdom;
kindly teaching is on her tongue.
27She is vigilant over the activities of her household;
she doesn’t eat the food of laziness.
28Her children bless her;
her husband praises her:
29“Many women act competently,
but you surpass them all!”
30Charm is deceptive and beauty fleeting,
but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.
31Let her share in the results of her work;
let her deeds praise her in the city gates.
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2011 Common English Bible. All rights reserved.
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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