Proverbs 31
31
The Oracle of King Lemuel
1The words of Lemuel, the king—an oracle
that his mother taught him:
2What, my son? And what, my son in my womb?
And what, son of my vows?
3Do not give your strength to the women,
and your ways to destroy kings.
4It is not for the kings, O Lemuel;
drinking wine is not for the kings,
nor is strong drink for rulers.
5Or else he will drink and forget what has been decreed,
and he will pervert the rights#Hebrew “right” of all the afflicted.#Literally “sons of affliction”
6Give strong drink to him who is perishing,
and wine to those in bitter distress.#Literally “to bitterness of soul”
7He will drink and forget his poverty,
and his misery he will not remember any more.
8Open your mouth for the mute,
for the rights#Hebrew “right” of all the needy.#Literally “the sons of the needy”
9Open your mouth, judge righteousness,
and defend the poor and needy.
An Excellent Woman#Prov 31:10–31 is an acrostic poem
10A woman#Or “wife” of excellence,#Or “strength,” or “valor,” or “ability,” or “efficiency” who will find?
For her worth is far more than precious jewels.
11The heart of her husband#Or “lord” trusts in her,
and gain he will not lack.
12She does him good, but not harm
all the days of her life.
13She seeks wool and flax,
and she works with the diligence of her hands.#Literally “her palms”
14She is like the ships of a merchant;
from far off she brings her food;#Or “bread”
15And she arises while it is still night,
and gives food to her household,
and tasks to her servant girls.
16She considers a field and buys it,
from the fruit of her hand#Literally “her palm” she plants a vineyard.
17She girds her waist in strength,
and makes her arms strong.
18She perceives that her merchandise is good;
her lamp does not go out in the night.
19Her hands she puts onto the distaff,#A stick or spindle onto which wool or flax is wound in preparation for spinning
and her palms hold a spindle.
20Her palm she opens to the poor,
and her hand she reaches out to the needy.
21She does not fear for her house when it snows,
for her entire household#Literally “all her house, household” is clothed in crimson.
22She makes for herself coverings;
her clothing is fine linen and purple.
23Her husband#Or “lord” is known at the gates,
in his seat among the elders of the land.
24Linen garments she makes and sells,
and she supplies sashes for the merchants.
25Strength and dignity are her clothing,
and she laughs at the future.#Literally “to the day/time coming after”
26She opens her mouth with wisdom,
and instruction of kindness is upon her tongue.
27She looks after the ways of her household,
and the bread of idleness she will not eat.
28Her children rise and consider her happy,
her husband#Or “lord” also, and he praises her;
29“Many daughters have done excellence,#Or “strength,” or “valor,” or “ability,” or “efficiency”
but you surpass#Literally “you ascend over” all of them.”
30Charm#Hebrew “The charm” is deceit and beauty#Hebrew “the beauty” is vain;#Or “vapor,” or “emptiness,” or “breath”
but a woman who fears Yahweh shall be praised.
31Give to her from the fruit of her hand,
and may they praise her works in the city gates.
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Proverbs 31: LEB
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Proverbs 31
31
1The words of king Lemuel; the oracle which his mother taught him.
2What, my son? and what, O son of my womb?
And what, O son of my vows?
3Give not thy strength unto women,
Nor thy ways to that which destroyeth kings.
4It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine;
Nor for princes to say, Where is strong drink?
5Lest they drink, and forget the law,
And pervert the justice due to any that is afflicted.
6Give strong drink unto him that is ready to perish,
And wine unto the bitter in soul:
7Let him drink, and forget his poverty,
And remember his misery no more.
8Open thy mouth for the dumb,
In the cause of all such as are left desolate.
9Open thy mouth, judge righteously,
And minister justice to the poor and needy.
10A worthy woman who can find?
For her price is far above rubies.
11The heart of her husband trusteth in her,
And he shall have no lack of gain.
12She doeth him good and not evil
All the days of her life.
13She seeketh wool and flax,
And worketh willingly with her hands.
14She is like the merchant-ships;
She bringeth her bread from afar.
15She riseth also while it is yet night,
And giveth food to her household,
And their task to her maidens.
16She considereth a field, and buyeth it;
With the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard.
17She girdeth her loins with strength,
And maketh strong her arms.
18She perceiveth that her merchandise is profitable;
Her lamp goeth not out by night.
19She layeth her hands to the distaff,
And her hands hold the spindle.
20She stretcheth out her hand to the poor;
Yea, she reacheth forth her hands to the needy.
21She is not afraid of the snow for her household;
For all her household are clothed with scarlet.
22She maketh for herself carpets of tapestry;
Her clothing is fine linen and purple.
23Her husband is known in the gates,
When he sitteth among the elders of the land.
24She maketh linen garments and selleth them,
And delivereth girdles unto the merchant.
25Strength and dignity are her clothing;
And she laugheth at the time to come.
26She openeth her mouth with wisdom;
And the law of kindness is on her tongue.
27She looketh well to the ways of her household,
And eateth not the bread of idleness.
28Her children rise up, and call her blessed;
Her husband also, and he praiseth her, saying:
29Many daughters have done worthily,
But thou excellest them all.
30Grace is deceitful, and beauty is vain;
But a woman that feareth Jehovah, she shall be praised.
31Give her of the fruit of her hands;
And let her works praise her in the gates.
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