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: CPDV
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Proverbs 31
31
The Sayings of King Lemuel
1The sayings of King Lemuel contain this message,#31:1 Or of Lemuel, king of Massa; or of King Lemuel, an oracle. which his mother taught him.
2O my son, O son of my womb,
O son of my vows,
3do not waste your strength on women,
on those who ruin kings.
4It is not for kings, O Lemuel, to guzzle wine.
Rulers should not crave alcohol.
5For if they drink, they may forget the law
and not give justice to the oppressed.
6Alcohol is for the dying,
and wine for those in bitter distress.
7Let them drink to forget their poverty
and remember their troubles no more.
8Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves;
ensure justice for those being crushed.
9Yes, speak up for the poor and helpless,
and see that they get justice.
A Wife of Noble Character
10 # 31:10 Verses 10-31 comprise a Hebrew acrostic poem; each verse begins with a successive letter of the Hebrew alphabet. Who can find a virtuous and capable wife?
She is more precious than rubies.
11Her husband can trust her,
and she will greatly enrich his life.
12She brings him good, not harm,
all the days of her life.
13She finds wool and flax
and busily spins it.
14She is like a merchant’s ship,
bringing her food from afar.
15She gets up before dawn to prepare breakfast for her household
and plan the day’s work for her servant girls.
16She goes to inspect a field and buys it;
with her earnings she plants a vineyard.
17She is energetic and strong,
a hard worker.
18She makes sure her dealings are profitable;
her lamp burns late into the night.
19Her hands are busy spinning thread,
her fingers twisting fiber.
20She extends a helping hand to the poor
and opens her arms to the needy.
21She has no fear of winter for her household,
for everyone has warm#31:21 As in Greek and Latin versions; Hebrew reads scarlet. clothes.
22She makes her own bedspreads.
She dresses in fine linen and purple gowns.
23Her husband is well known at the city gates,
where he sits with the other civic leaders.
24She makes belted linen garments
and sashes to sell to the merchants.
25She is clothed with strength and dignity,
and she laughs without fear of the future.
26When she speaks, her words are wise,
and she gives instructions with kindness.
27She carefully watches everything in her household
and suffers nothing from laziness.
28Her children stand and bless her.
Her husband praises her:
29“There are many virtuous and capable women in the world,
but you surpass them all!”
30Charm is deceptive, and beauty does not last;
but a woman who fears the Lord will be greatly praised.
31Reward her for all she has done.
Let her deeds publicly declare her praise.
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Holy Bible, New Living Translation copyright 1996, 2004, 2007, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation.
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