Proverbs 31
31
The Words of Lemuel
1The words of King Lemuel,
an oracle # Or of Lemuel, king of Massa, or of King Lemuel, a burden # Pr 30:1 that his mother taught him:
2What should I say, my son?
What, son of my womb? # Is 49:15
What, son of my vows?
3Don’t spend your energy # Pr 5:9 on women
or your efforts on those who destroy kings. # Dt 17:17; 1Kg 11:1; Neh 13:26
4It is not for kings, Lemuel,
it is not for kings # 1Kg 16:9; 20:16; Ec 10:17 to drink wine # Pr 20:1
or for rulers to desire beer.
5Otherwise, they # Lit he will drink,
forget what is decreed, # Hs 4:11
and pervert justice for all the oppressed. # Lit sons of affliction # Ps 72:1-2; Is 28:7
6Give beer to one who is dying
and wine to one whose life is bitter. # Jb 3:20
7Let him drink so that he can forget his poverty
and remember his trouble no more. # Ps 104:15
8Speak up # Lit Open your mouth for those who have no voice, # Lit who are mute # Jb 29:12-17
for the justice of all who are dispossessed. # Lit all the sons of passing away
9Speak up, # Lit Open your mouth judge righteously, # Lv 19:15; Dt 1:16
and defend the cause of # Lit and justice for the oppressed and needy. # Is 1:17; Jr 22:16
In Praise of a Capable Wife
10Who can find a capable wife? # Or a wife of quality, or a wife of noble character # Ru 3:11; Pr 12:4; 18:22; 19:14
She is far more precious than jewels. # Vv. 10-31 form an acrostic.
11The heart of her husband trusts in her,
and he will not lack anything good.
12She rewards him with good, not evil,
all the days of her life.
13She selects wool and flax
and works with willing hands.
14She is like the merchant ships,
bringing her food from far away. # 1Kg 10:22
15She rises while it is still night # Pr 20:13
and provides food for her household
and portions # Or tasks for her female servants. # Pr 27:27; Lk 12:42
16She evaluates a field and buys it;
she plants a vineyard with her earnings. # Or vineyard by her own labors # Mt 21:33
17She draws on her strength # Lit She wraps strength around her like a belt
and reveals that her arms are strong. # Pr 31:25
18She sees that her profits are good,
and her lamp never goes out at night. # Mt 25:8
19She extends her hands to the spinning staff,
and her hands hold the spindle. # Pr 31:13
20Her hands reach # Lit Her hand reaches out to the poor,
and she extends her hands to the needy. # Dt 15:11; Pr 22:9; 31:9; Rm 12:13; Eph 4:28
21She is not afraid for her household when it snows,
for all in her household are doubly clothed. # LXX, Vg; MT reads are dressed in scarlet
22She makes her own bed coverings; # Pr 7:16
her clothing is fine linen # Gn 41:42; Rv 19:8,14 and purple. # Jdg 8:26; Lk 16:19
23Her husband is known at the city gates,
where he sits among the elders of the land. # Ru 4:1-2; Pr 24:7; 31:31
24She makes and sells linen garments;
she delivers belts # Or sashes to the merchants.
25Strength # Pr 31:17 and honor are her clothing, # 1Tm 2:9-10
and she can laugh at the time to come. # Pr 31:21
26She opens her mouth with wisdom
and loving instruction # Or and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue.
27She watches over the activities of her household # Pr 31:15
and is never idle. # Lit and does not eat the bread of idleness
28Her sons rise up and call her blessed.
Her husband also praises her:
29“Many women # Lit daughters are capable,
but you surpass them all! ” # Pr 12:4; 31:10; Sg 6:8-9
30Charm is deceptive and beauty is fleeting, # 1Pt 3:3-4
but a woman who fears the Lord will be praised.
31Give her the reward of her labor, # Lit the fruit of her hands
and let her works praise her at the city gates.
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Proverbs 31: HCSB
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Proverbs 31
31
Proverbs 31
1¶ The words of King Lemuel, the prophecy with which his mother taught him.
2What, my son? and what, the son of my womb? and what, the son of my vows?
3Do not give thy strength nor thy ways unto the women who destroy kings.
4 It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine; nor is beer for princes
5lest they drink and forget the law and pervert the judgment of any of the afflicted.
6Give beer unto him that is ready to perish and wine unto those that have heavy hearts.
7They drink and forget their need and remember their misery no more.
8Open thy mouth for those who cannot speak in the judgment of all the sons of death.
9Open thy mouth, judge righteously, and plead the cause of the poor and destitute.
Aleph
10¶ Who can find a valiant woman? for her price is far above precious stones.
Beth
11The heart of her husband safely trusts in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil.
Gimel
12She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life.
Daleth
13She sought wool and flax and worked willingly with her hands.
He
14She was like the merchants’ ships; she brings her food from afar.
Vau
15She rose up even at night and gave food to her family and a portion to her maidens.
Zain
16She considered the inheritance and bought it; with the fruit of her hands she planted a vineyard.
Cheth
17She girded her loins with strength and strengthened her arms.
Teth
18She perceived that her merchandise was good; her fire did not go out by night.
Jod
19She laid her hands to the spindle, and her hands held the distaff.
Caph
20She stretched out her hand to the poor; yea, she reached forth her hands to the destitute.
Lamed
21She shall not be afraid of the snow for her family, for all her family is clothed with double garments.
Mem
22She makes herself tapestries; her clothing is of fine linen and purple.
Nun
23Her husband is known in the gates when he sits among the elders of the land.
Samech
24She made fine linen and sold it and delivered girdles unto the merchant.
Ain
25Strength and glory is her clothing, and she shall laugh in the last day.
Pe
26She opened her mouth with wisdom, and the law of mercy is upon her tongue.
Tzaddi
27She looks well to the ways of her household and does not eat bread in idleness.
Koph
28Her sons rose up and called her blessed; her husband also, and he praised her.
Resh
29Many daughters have done valiantly, but thou dost excel them all.
Schin
30Grace is deceitful, and beauty is vain, but the woman that fears the Lord shall be praised.
Tau
31Give her of the fruit of her hands, and let her own works praise her in the gates.
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The Jubilee Bible 2000 (JUB) by Ransom Press International