Proverbs 31
31
What King Lemuel's Mother Taught Him
1These are the sayings
that King Lemuel of Massa
was taught by his mother.
2My son Lemuel, you were born
in answer to my prayers,
so listen carefully.
3Don't waste your life
chasing after women!
This has ruined many kings.
4Kings and leaders
should not get drunk
or even want to drink.
5Drinking makes you forget
your responsibilities,
and you mistreat the poor.
6Beer and wine are only
for the dying or for those
who have lost all hope.
7Let them drink and forget
how poor and miserable
they feel.
8But you must defend
those who are helpless
and have no hope.
9Be fair and give justice
to the poor and homeless.
In Praise of a Good Wife
10A truly good wife
is the most precious treasure
a man can find!
11Her husband depends on her,
and she never
lets him down.
12She is good to him
every day of her life,
13and with her own hands
she gladly makes clothes.
14She is like a sailing ship
that brings food
from across the sea.
15She gets up before daylight
to prepare food for her family
and for her servants.#31.15 and … servants: Or “and to tell her servants what to do.”
16She knows how to buy land
and how to plant a vineyard,
17and she always works hard.
18She knows when to buy or sell,
and she stays busy
until late at night.
19She spins her own cloth,
20and she helps the poor
and the needy.
21Her family has warm clothing,
and so she doesn't worry
when it snows.
22She does her own sewing,
and everything she wears
is beautiful.
23Her husband is a well-known
and respected leader
in the city.
24She makes clothes to sell
to the shop owners.
25She is strong and graceful,#31.25 She … graceful: Or “The clothes she makes are attractive and of good quality.”
as well as cheerful
about the future.
26Her words are sensible,
and her advice
is thoughtful.
27She takes good care
of her family
and is never lazy.
28Her children praise her,
and with great pride
her husband says,
29“There are many good women,
but you are the best!”
30Charm can be deceiving,
and beauty fades away,
but a woman
who honors the Lord
deserves to be praised.
31Show her respect—
praise her in public
for what she has done.
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Proverbs 31: CEV
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Contemporary English Version, Second Edition (CEV®)
© 2006 American Bible Society. 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.