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.
Proverbs 31
31
1Words of Lemuel a king, a declaration that his mother taught him:
2‘What, my son? and what, son of my womb? And what, son of my vows?
3Give not to women thy strength, And thy ways to wiping away of kings.
4Not for kings, O Lemuel, Not for kings, to drink wine, And for princes a desire of strong drink.
5Lest he drink, and forget the decree, And change the judgment of any of the sons of affliction.
6Give strong drink to the perishing, And wine to the bitter in soul,
7He drinketh, and forgetteth his poverty, And his misery he remembereth not again.
8Open thy mouth for the dumb, For the right of all sons of change.
9Open thy mouth, judge righteously, Both the cause of the poor and needy!’
10A woman of worth who doth find? Yea, far above rubies [is] her price.
11The heart of her husband hath trusted in her, And spoil he lacketh not.
12She hath done him good, and not evil, All days of her life.
13She hath sought wool and flax, And with delight she worketh [with] her hands.
14She hath been as ships of the merchant, From afar she bringeth in her bread.
15Yea, she riseth while yet night, And giveth food to her household, And a portion to her damsels.
16She hath considered a field, and taketh it, From the fruit of her hands she hath planted a vineyard.
17She hath girded with might her loins, And doth strengthen her arms.
18She hath perceived when her merchandise [is] good, Her lamp is not extinguished in the night.
19Her hands she hath sent forth on a spindle, And her hands have held a distaff.
20Her hand she hath spread forth to the poor, Yea, her hands she sent forth to the needy.
21She is not afraid of her household from snow, For all her household are clothed [with] scarlet.
22Ornamental coverings she hath made for herself, Silk and purple [are] her clothing.
23Known in the gates is her husband, In his sitting with elders of the land.
24Linen garments she hath made, and selleth, And a girdle she hath given to the merchant.
25Strength and honour [are] her clothing, And she rejoiceth at a latter day.
26Her mouth she hath opened in wisdom, And the law of kindness [is] on her tongue.
27She [is] watching the ways of her household, And bread of sloth she eateth not.
28Her sons have risen up, and pronounce her happy, Her husband, and he praiseth her,
29‘Many [are] the daughters who have done worthily, Thou hast gone up above them all.’
30The grace [is] false, and the beauty [is] vain, A woman fearing Jehovah, she may boast herself.
31Give ye to her of the fruit of her hands, And her works do praise her in the gates!
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