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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Proverbs 31: GW
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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.
Mishlei (Pro) 31
31
1The words of King L’mu’el, the prophecy with which his mother disciplined him:
2No, my son! No, son of my womb!
No, son of my vows!
3Don’t give your strength to women
or your ways to that which destroys kings.
4It is not for kings, L’mu’el,
not for kings to drink wine;
it is not for rulers to ask,
“Where can I find strong liquor?”
5For they may drink, then forget what has been decreed,
and pervert the justice due to the poor.
6Give strong liquor to one who is perishing,
wine to the deeply depressed;
7let him drink, forget his poverty
and cease to remember his troubles.
8Speak up for those who can’t speak for themselves,
for the rights of all who need an advocate.
9Speak up, judge righteously,
defend the cause of the poor and the needy.
א 10Who can find a capable wife?
Her value is far beyond that of pearls.
ב 11Her husband trusts her from his heart,
and she will prove a great asset to him.
ג 12She works to bring him good, not harm,
all the days of her life.
ד 13She procures a supply of wool and flax
and works with willing hands.
ה 14She is like those merchant vessels,
bringing her food from far away.
ו 15It’s still dark when she rises to give food to her household
and orders to the young women serving her.
ז 16She considers a field, then buys it,
and from her earnings she plants a vineyard.
ח 17She gathers her strength around her
and throws herself into her work.
ט 18She sees that her business affairs go well;
her lamp stays lit at night.
י 19She puts her hands to the staff with the flax;
her fingers hold the spinning rod.
כ 20She reaches out to embrace the poor
and opens her arms to the needy.
ל 21When it snows, she has no fear for her household;
since all of them are doubly clothed.
מ 22She makes her own quilts;
she is clothed in fine linen and purple.
נ 23Her husband is known at the city gates
when he sits with the leaders of the land.
ס 24She makes linen garments and sells them;
she supplies the merchants with sashes.
ע 25Clothed with strength and dignity,
she can laugh at the days to come.
פ 26When she opens her mouth, she speaks wisely;
on her tongue is loving instruction.
צ 27She watches how things go in her house,
not eating the bread of idleness.
ק 28Her children arise; they make her happy;
her husband too, as he praises her:
ר 29“Many women have done wonderful things,
but you surpass them all!”
ש 30Charm can lie, beauty can vanish,
but a woman who fears Adonai should be praised.
ת 31Give her a share in what she produces;
let her works speak her praises at the city gates.
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