Proverbs 31
31
1 THE WORDS of Lemuel king of Massa, which his mother taught him:
2 What, my son? What, son of my womb? What [shall I advise you], son of my vows and dedication to God?
3 Give not your strength to [loose] women, nor your ways to those who and that which ruin and destroy kings.
4 It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine, or for rulers to desire strong drink, [Eccl. 10:17; Hos. 4:11.]
5 Lest they drink and forget the law and what it decrees, and pervert the justice due any of the afflicted.
6 Give strong drink [as medicine] to him who is ready to pass away, and wine to him in bitter distress of heart.
7 Let him drink and forget his poverty and [seriously] remember his want and misery no more.
8 Open your mouth for the dumb [those unable to speak for themselves], for the rights of all who are left desolate and defenseless; [I Sam. 19:4; Esth. 4:16; Job 29:15, 16.]
9 Open your mouth, judge righteously, and administer justice for the poor and needy. [Lev. 19:15; Deut. 1:16; Job 29:12; Isa. 1:17; Jer. 22:16.]
10 A capable, intelligent, and virtuous woman–who is he who can find her? She is far more precious than jewels and her value is far above rubies or pearls. [Prov. 12:4; 18:22; 19:14.]
11 The heart of her husband trusts in her confidently and relies on and believes in her securely, so that he has no lack of [honest] gain or need of [dishonest] spoil.
12 She comforts, encourages, and does him only good as long as there is life within her.
13 She seeks out wool and flax and works with willing hands [to develop it].
14 She is like the merchant ships loaded with foodstuffs; she brings her household's food from a far [country].
15 She rises while it is yet night and gets [spiritual] food for her household and assigns her maids their tasks. [Job 23:12.]
16 She considers a [new] field before she buys or accepts it [expanding prudently and not courting neglect of her present duties by assuming other duties]; with her savings [of time and strength] she plants fruitful vines in her vineyard. [S. of Sol. 8:12.]
17 She girds herself with strength [spiritual, mental, and physical fitness for her God-given task] and makes her arms strong and firm.
18 She tastes and sees that her gain from work [with and for God] is good; her lamp goes not out, but it burns on continually through the night [of trouble, privation, or sorrow, warning away fear, doubt, and distrust].
19 She lays her hands to the spindle, and her hands hold the distaff.
20 She opens her hand to the poor, yes, she reaches out her filled hands to the needy [whether in body, mind, or spirit].
21 She fears not the snow for her family, for all her household are doubly clothed in scarlet. [Josh. 2:18, 19; Heb. 9:19-22.]
22 She makes for herself coverlets, cushions, and rugs of tapestry. Her clothing is of linen, pure and fine, and of purple [such as that of which the clothing of the priests and the hallowed cloths of the temple were made]. [Isa. 61:10; I Tim. 2:9; Rev. 3:5; 19:8, 14.]
23 Her husband is known in the [city's] gates, when he sits among the elders of the land. [Prov. 12:4.]
24 She makes fine linen garments and leads others to buy them; she delivers to the merchants girdles [or sashes that free one up for service].
25 Strength and dignity are her clothing and her position is strong and secure; she rejoices over the future [the latter day or time to come, knowing that she and her family are in readiness for it]!
26 She opens her mouth in skillful and godly Wisdom, and on her tongue is the law of kindness [giving counsel and instruction].
27 She looks well to how things go in her household, and the bread of idleness (gossip, discontent, and self-pity) she will not eat. [I Tim. 5:14; Tit. 2:5.]
28 Her children rise up and call her blessed (happy, fortunate, and to be envied); and her husband boasts of and praises her, [saying],
29 Many daughters have done virtuously, nobly, and well [with the strength of character that is steadfast in goodness], but you excel them all.
30 Charm and grace are deceptive, and beauty is vain [because it is not lasting], but a woman who reverently and worshipfully fears the Lord, she shall be praised!
31 Give her of the fruit of her hands, and let her own works praise her in the gates [of the city]! [Phil. 4:8.]
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Proverbs 31: AMPC
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1954, 1958, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1987 by The Lockman Foundation
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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