Proverbs 31
31
1The sayings of King Lemuel, a prophetic revelation, used by his mother to discipline him.
Advice to a Prince
2“What, my son?
What, son to whom I gave birth?
What, son of my prayers?
3Don’t give your strength to women
or your power to those who ruin kings.
4“It is not for kings, Lemuel.
It is not for kings to drink wine or for rulers to crave liquor.
5Otherwise, they drink and forget what they have decreed
and change the standard of justice for all oppressed people.
6Give liquor to a person who is dying
and wine to one who feels resentful.
7Such a person drinks
and forgets his poverty
and does not remember his trouble anymore.
8“Speak out for the one who cannot speak,
for the rights of those who are doomed.
9Speak out,
judge fairly,
and defend the rights of oppressed and needy people.”
A Poem in Hebrew Alphabetical Order
10“Who can find a wife with a strong character?
She is worth far more than jewels.
11Her husband trusts her with ⌞all⌟ his heart,
and he does not lack anything good.
12She helps him and never harms him all the days of her life.
13“She seeks out wool and linen ⌞with care⌟
and works with willing hands.
14She is like merchant ships.
She brings her food from far away.
15She wakes up while it is still dark
and gives food to her family
and portions of food to her female slaves.
16“She picks out a field and buys it.
She plants a vineyard from the profits she has earned.
17She puts on strength like a belt
and goes to work with energy.
18She sees that she is making a good profit.
Her lamp burns late at night.
19“She puts her hands on the distaff,
and her fingers hold a spindle.
20She opens her hands to oppressed people
and stretches them out to needy people.
21She does not fear for her family when it snows
because her whole family
has a double layer of clothing.
22She makes quilts for herself.
Her clothes are ⌞made of⌟ linen and purple cloth.
23“Her husband is known at the city gates
when he sits with the leaders of the land.
24“She makes linen garments and sells them
and delivers belts to the merchants.
25She dresses with strength and nobility,
and she smiles at the future.
26“She speaks with wisdom,
and on her tongue there is tender instruction.
27She keeps a close eye on the conduct of her family,
and she does not eat the bread of idleness.
28Her children and her husband
stand up and bless her.
In addition, he sings her praises, by saying,
29‘Many women have done noble work,
but you have surpassed them all!’
30“Charm is deceptive, and beauty evaporates,
⌞but⌟ a woman who has the fear of the Lord should be praised.
31Reward her for what she has done,
and let her achievements praise her at the city gates.”
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GOD'S WORD® Translation ©1995, 2003, 2013, 2014, 2019, 2020 by God's Word to the Nations Mission Society. All rights reserved.
Proverbs 31
31
The Sayings of King Lemuel’s Mother
1The words of King Lemuel, an oracle that his mother taught him:
2#Isa 49:15; 1Sa 1:11 What, my son? And what, the son of my womb?
And what, the son of my vows?
3#Dt 17:17; Ne 13:26 Do not give your strength to women,
nor your ways to that which destroys kings.
4#Ecc 10:17; Pr 20:1 It is not for kings, O Lemuel,
it is not for kings to drink wine,
nor for princes strong drink;
5lest they drink and forget the law,
and pervert the justice of any of the afflicted.
6#1Ti 5:23 Give strong drink to him who is ready to perish,
and wine to those who are of heavy hearts.
7Let him drink, and forget his poverty,
and remember his misery no more.
8#Ps 82:3–4 Open your mouth for the speechless
in the cause of all such as are appointed to destruction.
9#Lev 19:15; Dt 1:16 Open your mouth, judge righteously,
and plead the cause of the poor and needy.
Epilogue: The Virtuous Wife
10#Ru 3:11; Pr 12:4 Who can find a virtuous woman?
For her worth is far above rubies.
11The heart of her husband safely trusts in her,
so that he will have no lack of gain.
12She will do him good and not evil
all the days of her life.
13She seeks wool and flax,
and works willingly with her hands.
14She is like the merchant ships,
she brings her food from afar.
15#Lk 12:42; Ro 12:11 She also rises while it is yet night,
and gives food to her household,
and a portion to her maidens.
16She considers a field and buys it;
with the fruit of her hands she plants a vineyard.
17#1Ki 18:46; 2Ki 4:29 She clothes herself with strength,
and strengthens her arms.
18She perceives that her merchandise is good;
her candle does not go out by night.
19She lays her hands to the spindle,
and her hands hold the distaff.
20#Eph 4:28; Job 31:16–20 She stretches out her hand to the poor;
yes, she reaches forth her hands to the needy.
21She is not afraid of the snow for her household,
for all her household are clothed with scarlet.
22#Ge 41:42; Pr 7:16 She makes herself coverings of tapestry;
her clothing is silk and purple.
23#Ru 4:1; Dt 16:18 Her husband is known in the gates,
when he sits among the elders of the land.
24She makes fine linen and sells it,
and delivers sashes to the merchant.
25#1Ti 2:10 Strength and honor are her clothing,
and she will rejoice in time to come.
26She opens her mouth with wisdom,
and in her tongue is the teaching of kindness.
27She looks well to the ways of her household,
and does not eat the bread of idleness.
28Her children rise up and call her blessed;
her husband also, and he praises her:
29“Many daughters have done virtuously,
but you excel them all.”
30Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain,
but a woman who fears 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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