Proverbs 31
31
1 The words of king Lamuel. The vision by which his mother instructed him:
2 "What, O my beloved? What, O beloved of my womb? What, O beloved of my vows?
3 Do not give your substance to women, or your riches to overthrow kings.
4 Not to kings, O Lamuel, not to kings give wine. For there are no secrets where drunkenness reigns.
5 And perhaps they may drink and forget judgments, and alter the case of the sons of the poor.
6 Give strong drink to the grieving, and wine to those who are bitter in soul.
7 Let them drink, and forget their needs, and remember their sorrow no more.
8 Open your mouth for the mute and for all the cases of the sons who are passing through.
9 Open your mouth, declare what is just, and do justice to the indigent and the poor.
10 Who shall find a strong woman? Far away, and from the furthest parts, is her price.
11 The heart of her husband confides in her, and he will not be deprived of spoils.
12 She will repay him with good, and not evil, all the days of her life.
13 She has sought wool and flax, and she has worked these by the counsel of her hands.
14 She has become like a merchant's ship, bringing her bread from far away.
15 And she has risen in the night, and given a prey to her household, and provisions to her maids.
16 She has considered a field and bought it. From the fruit of her own hands, she has planted a vineyard.
17 She has wrapped her waist with fortitude, and she has strengthened her arm.
18 She has tasted and seen that her tasks are good; her lamp shall not be extinguished at night.
19 She has put her hand to strong things, and her fingers have taken hold of the spindle.
20 She has opened her hand to the needy, and she has extended her hands to the poor.
21 She shall not fear, in the cold of snow, for her household. For all those of her household have been clothed two-fold.
22 She has made embroidered clothing for herself. Fine linen and purple is her garment.
23 Her husband is noble at the gates, when he sits among the senators of the land.
24 She has made finely woven cloth and sold it, and she has delivered a waistband to the Canaanite.
25 Strength and elegance are her clothing, and she will laugh in the final days.
26 She has opened her mouth to wisdom, and the law of clemency is on her tongue.
27 She has considered the paths of her household, and she has not eaten her bread in idleness.
28 Her sons rose up and predicted great happiness; her husband rose up and praised her.
29 Many daughters have gathered together riches; you have surpassed them all.
30 Charm is false, and beauty is vain. The woman who fears the Lord, the same shall be praised.
31 Give to her from the fruit of her own hands. And let her works praise her at the gates.
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Proverbs 31
31
Sayings of King Lemuel
1The sayings of King Lemuel—an inspired utterance his mother taught him.
2Listen, my son! Listen, son of my womb!
Listen, my son, the answer to my prayers!
3Do not spend your strength#31:3 Or wealth on women,
your vigor on those who ruin kings.
4It is not for kings, Lemuel—
it is not for kings to drink wine,
not for rulers to crave beer,
5lest they drink and forget what has been decreed,
and deprive all the oppressed of their rights.
6Let beer be for those who are perishing,
wine for those who are in anguish!
7Let them drink and forget their poverty
and remember their misery no more.
8Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves,
for the rights of all who are destitute.
9Speak up and judge fairly;
defend the rights of the poor and needy.
Epilogue: The Wife of Noble Character
10 # 31:10 Verses 10-31 are an acrostic poem, the verses of which begin with the successive letters of the Hebrew alphabet. A wife of noble character who can find?
She is worth far more than rubies.
11Her husband has full confidence in her
and lacks nothing of value.
12She brings him good, not harm,
all the days of her life.
13She selects wool and flax
and works with eager hands.
14She is like the merchant ships,
bringing her food from afar.
15She gets up while it is still night;
she provides food for her family
and portions for her female servants.
16She considers a field and buys it;
out of her earnings she plants a vineyard.
17She sets about her work vigorously;
her arms are strong for her tasks.
18She sees that her trading is profitable,
and her lamp does not go out at night.
19In her hand she holds the distaff
and grasps the spindle with her fingers.
20She opens her arms to the poor
and extends her hands to the needy.
21When it snows, she has no fear for her household;
for all of them are clothed in scarlet.
22She makes coverings for her bed;
she is clothed in fine linen and purple.
23Her husband is respected at the city gate,
where he takes his seat among the elders of the land.
24She makes linen garments and sells them,
and supplies the merchants with sashes.
25She is clothed with strength and dignity;
she can laugh at the days to come.
26She speaks with wisdom,
and faithful instruction is on her tongue.
27She watches over the affairs of her household
and does not eat the bread of idleness.
28Her children arise and call her blessed;
her husband also, and he praises her:
29“Many women do noble things,
but you surpass them all.”
30Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting;
but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.
31Honor her for all that her hands have done,
and let her works bring her praise at the city gate.
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