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.
Proverbs 31
31
Admonitions to a King
1The words of king Lem´u-el, the prophecy that his mother taught him.
2What, my son?
And what, the son of my womb?
And what, the son of my vows?
3Give not thy strength unto women,
nor thy ways to that which destroyeth kings.
4 It is not for kings, O Lem´u-el,
it is not for kings to drink wine;
nor for princes strong drink:
5lest they drink, and forget the law,
and pervert the judgment of any of the afflicted.
6Give strong drink unto him that is ready to perish,
and wine unto those that be of heavy hearts.
7Let him drink, and forget his poverty,
and remember his misery no more.
8Open thy mouth for the dumb
in the cause of all such as are appointed to destruction.
9Open thy mouth, judge righteously,
and plead the cause of the poor and needy.
Praise of a Good Woman
10Who can find a virtuous woman?
For her price is far above rubies.
11The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her,
so that he shall have no need of spoil.
12She will do 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.
15She riseth also while it is yet night,
and giveth meat to her household,
and a portion to her maidens.
16She considereth a field, and buyeth it:
with the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard.
17She girdeth her loins with strength,
and strengtheneth her arms.
18She perceiveth that her merchandise is good:
her candle goeth not out by night.
19She layeth her hands to the spindle,
and her hands hold the distaff.
20She stretcheth our her hand to the poor;
yea, 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 coverings of tapestry;
her clothing is silk and purple.
23Her husband is known in the gates,
when he sitteth among the elders of the land.
24She maketh fine linen, and selleth it;
and delivereth girdles unto the merchant.
25Strength and honor are her clothing;
and she shall rejoice in time to come.
26She openeth her mouth with wisdom;
and in her tongue is the law of kindness.
27She looketh well to the ways of her household,
and eateth not the bread of idleness.
28Her children arise up, and call her blessed;
her husband also, and he praiseth her.
29Many daughters have done virtuously,
but thou excellest them all.
30Favor is deceitful, and beauty is vain:
but a woman that feareth the Lord, 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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King James Version 1611, spelling, punctuation and text formatting modernized by ABS in 1962; typesetting © 2010 American Bible Society.