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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Proverbs 31: YLT98
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Proverbs 31
31
The Words of Lemuel
1The words of King Lemuel,
a pronouncement#31:1 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, he will drink,
forget what is decreed,#Hs 4:11
and pervert justice for all the oppressed.#31:5 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#31:8 Lit Open your mouth, also in v. 9 for those who have no voice,#31:8 Lit who are mute#Jb 29:12–17
for the justice of all who are dispossessed.#31:8 Lit all the sons of passing away
9Speak up, judge righteously,#Lv 19:15; Dt 1:16
and defend the cause of the oppressed and needy.#Is 1:17; Jr 22:16
In Praise of a Wife of Noble Character
10Who can find a wife of noble character?#31:10 Or a wife of quality, or a capable wife#Ru 3:11; Pr 12:4; 18:22; 19:14
She is far more precious than jewels.#31:10 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#31:15 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.#31:16 Or vineyard by her own labors#Mt 21:33
17She draws on her strength#31:17 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#31:20 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.#31:21 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#31:24 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
26Her mouth speaks wisdom,
and loving instruction#31:26 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.#31:27 Lit and does not eat the bread of idleness
28Her children rise up and call her blessed;
her husband also praises her:
29“Many women#31:29 Lit daughters have done noble deeds,
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,#31:31 Lit the fruit of her hands
and let her works praise her at the city gates.
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