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.
Currently Selected:
Proverbs 31: CEB
Highlight
Share
Copy
Want to have your highlights saved across all your devices? Sign up or sign in
2011 Common English Bible. All rights reserved.
Proverbs 31
31
1The words of king Lamuel. The vision wherewith his mother instructed him.
2What, O my beloved, what, O the beloved of my womb, what, O the beloved of my vows?
3Give not thy substance to women, and thy riches to destroy kings.
4Give not to kings, O Lamuel, give not wine to kings: because there is no secret where drunkenness reigneth:
5And lest they drink and forget judgments, and pervert the cause of the children of the poor.
6Give strong drink to them that are sad: and wine to them that are grieved in mind:
7Let them drink, and forget their want, and remember their sorrow no more.
8Open thy mouth for the dumb, and for the causes of all the children that pass.
9Open thy mouth, decree that which is just, and do justice to the needy and poor.
10Who shall find a valiant woman? far and from the uttermost coasts is the price of her.
11The heart of her husband trusteth in her, and he shall have no need of spoils.
12She will render him good, and not evil, all the days of her life.
13She hath sought wool and flax, and hath wrought by the counsel of her hands.
14She is like the merchant's ship, she bringeth her bread from afar.
15And she hath risen in the night, and given a prey to her household, and victuals to her maidens.
16She hath considered a field, and bought it: with the fruit of her hands she hath planted a vineyard.
17She hath girded her loins with strength, and hath strengthened her arm.
18She hath tasted and seen that her traffic is good: her lamp shall not be put out in the night.
19She hath put out her hand to strong things, and her fingers have taken hold of the spindle.
20She hath opened her hand to the needy, and stretched out her hands to the poor.
21She shall not fear for her house in the cold of snow: for all her domestics are clothed with double garments.
22She hath made for herself clothing of tapestry: fine linen, and purple is her covering.
23Her husband is honourable in the gates, when he sitteth among the senators of the land.
24She made fine linen, and sold it, end delivered a girdle to the Chanaanite.
25Strength and beauty are her clothing, and she shall laugh in the latter day.
26She hath opened her mouth to wisdom, and the law of clemency is on her tongue.
27She hath looked well to the paths of her house, and hath not eaten her bread idle.
28Her children rose up, and called her blessed: her husband, and he praised her.
29Many daughters have gathered together riches: thou hast surpassed them all.
30Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: the woman that feareth the Lord, she shall be praised.
31Give her of the fruit of her hands: and let her works praise her in the gates.
Currently Selected:
:
Highlight
Share
Copy
Want to have your highlights saved across all your devices? Sign up or sign in
An historical text maintained by the British and Foreign Bible Society.