The Listener’s Bible®: NIV® EditionAudio Copyright ℗ 2011 by Max McLeanUsed by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. The Holy Bible, New International Version® NIV®Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.®All rights reserved worldwide. 

The Listener’s Bible®: NIV Edition

New International Version™  (Anglicised), Audio Edition

Holy Bible, New International Version™ (Anglicised), South Asian Audio Edition

<div class="version vid111 iso6393eng" data-vid="111" data-iso6393="eng">
    <div class="book bkPRO">
        <div class="chapter ch31" data-usfm="PRO.31">
            <div class="label">31</div><div class="ms1"><span class="heading">Sayings of King Lemuel</span></div><div class="p"><span class="content">  </span><span class="verse v1" data-usfm="PRO.31.1"><span class="label">1</span><span class="content">The sayings of King Lemuel&#8212;an inspired utterance his mother taught him.</span></span></div><div class="q1"><span class="verse v1" data-usfm="PRO.31.1"><span class="content">  </span></span><span class="verse v2" data-usfm="PRO.31.2"><span class="label">2</span><span class="content">Listen, my son! Listen, son of my womb!</span></span></div><div class="q2"><span class="verse v2" data-usfm="PRO.31.2"><span class="content">Listen, my son, the answer to my prayers!</span></span></div><div class="q1"><span class="verse v2" data-usfm="PRO.31.2"><span class="content">  </span></span><span class="verse v3" data-usfm="PRO.31.3"><span class="label">3</span><span class="content">Do not spend your strength</span><span class="note f"><span class="label">#</span><span class=" body"><span class="fr">31:3 </span><span class="ft">Or </span><span class="fqa">wealth</span></span></span><span class="content"> on women,</span></span></div><div class="q2"><span class="verse v3" data-usfm="PRO.31.3"><span class="content">your vigor on those who ruin kings.</span></span></div><div class="b"></div><div class="q1"><span class="verse v3" data-usfm="PRO.31.3"><span class="content">  </span></span><span class="verse v4" data-usfm="PRO.31.4"><span class="label">4</span><span class="content">It is not for kings, Lemuel&#8212;</span></span></div><div class="q2"><span class="verse v4" data-usfm="PRO.31.4"><span class="content">it is not for kings to drink wine,</span></span></div><div class="q2"><span class="verse v4" data-usfm="PRO.31.4"><span class="content">not for rulers to crave beer,</span></span></div><div class="q1"><span class="verse v4" data-usfm="PRO.31.4"><span class="content">  </span></span><span class="verse v5" data-usfm="PRO.31.5"><span class="label">5</span><span class="content">lest they drink and forget what has been decreed,</span></span></div><div class="q2"><span class="verse v5" data-usfm="PRO.31.5"><span class="content">and deprive all the oppressed of their rights.</span></span></div><div class="q1"><span class="verse v5" data-usfm="PRO.31.5"><span class="content">  </span></span><span class="verse v6" data-usfm="PRO.31.6"><span class="label">6</span><span class="content">Let beer be for those who are perishing,</span></span></div><div class="q2"><span class="verse v6" data-usfm="PRO.31.6"><span class="content">wine for those who are in anguish!</span></span></div><div class="q1"><span class="verse v6" data-usfm="PRO.31.6"><span class="content">  </span></span><span class="verse v7" data-usfm="PRO.31.7"><span class="label">7</span><span class="content">Let them drink and forget their poverty</span></span></div><div class="q2"><span class="verse v7" data-usfm="PRO.31.7"><span class="content">and remember their misery no more.</span></span></div><div class="b"></div><div class="q1"><span class="verse v7" data-usfm="PRO.31.7"><span class="content">  </span></span><span class="verse v8" data-usfm="PRO.31.8"><span class="label">8</span><span class="content">Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves,</span></span></div><div class="q2"><span class="verse v8" data-usfm="PRO.31.8"><span class="content">for the rights of all who are destitute.</span></span></div><div class="q1"><span class="verse v8" data-usfm="PRO.31.8"><span class="content">  </span></span><span class="verse v9" data-usfm="PRO.31.9"><span class="label">9</span><span class="content">Speak up and judge fairly;</span></span></div><div class="q2"><span class="verse v9" data-usfm="PRO.31.9"><span class="content">defend the rights of the poor and needy.</span></span></div><div class="ms1"><span class="heading">Epilogue: The Wife of Noble Character</span></div><div class="q1"><span class="verse v9" data-usfm="PRO.31.9"><span class="content">  </span></span><span class="verse v10" data-usfm="PRO.31.10"><span class="label">10</span><span class="content">  </span><span class="note f"><span class="label">#</span><span class=" body"><span class="ft">  </span><span class="fr">31:10 </span><span class="ft">  </span><span class="ft">Verses 10-31 are an acrostic poem, the verses of which begin with the successive letters of the Hebrew alphabet.</span><span class="ft">  </span></span></span><span class="content"> A wife of noble character who can find?</span></span></div><div class="q2"><span class="verse v10" data-usfm="PRO.31.10"><span class="content">She is worth far more than rubies.</span></span></div><div class="q1"><span class="verse v10" data-usfm="PRO.31.10"><span class="content">  </span></span><span class="verse v11" data-usfm="PRO.31.11"><span class="label">11</span><span class="content">Her husband has full confidence in her</span></span></div><div class="q2"><span class="verse v11" data-usfm="PRO.31.11"><span class="content">and lacks nothing of value.</span></span></div><div class="q1"><span class="verse v11" data-usfm="PRO.31.11"><span class="content">  </span></span><span class="verse v12" data-usfm="PRO.31.12"><span class="label">12</span><span class="content">She brings him good, not harm,</span></span></div><div class="q2"><span class="verse v12" data-usfm="PRO.31.12"><span class="content">all the days of her life.</span></span></div><div class="q1"><span class="verse v12" data-usfm="PRO.31.12"><span class="content">  </span></span><span class="verse v13" data-usfm="PRO.31.13"><span class="label">13</span><span class="content">She selects wool and flax</span></span></div><div class="q2"><span class="verse v13" data-usfm="PRO.31.13"><span class="content">and works with eager hands.</span></span></div><div class="q1"><span class="verse v13" data-usfm="PRO.31.13"><span class="content">  </span></span><span class="verse v14" data-usfm="PRO.31.14"><span class="label">14</span><span class="content">She is like the merchant ships,</span></span></div><div class="q2"><span class="verse v14" data-usfm="PRO.31.14"><span class="content">bringing her food from afar.</span></span></div><div class="q1"><span class="verse v14" data-usfm="PRO.31.14"><span class="content">  </span></span><span class="verse v15" data-usfm="PRO.31.15"><span class="label">15</span><span class="content">She gets up while it is still night;</span></span></div><div class="q2"><span class="verse v15" data-usfm="PRO.31.15"><span class="content">she provides food for her family</span></span></div><div class="q2"><span class="verse v15" data-usfm="PRO.31.15"><span class="content">and portions for her female servants.</span></span></div><div class="q1"><span class="verse v15" data-usfm="PRO.31.15"><span class="content">  </span></span><span class="verse v16" data-usfm="PRO.31.16"><span class="label">16</span><span class="content">She considers a field and buys it;</span></span></div><div class="q2"><span class="verse v16" data-usfm="PRO.31.16"><span class="content">out of her earnings she plants a vineyard.</span></span></div><div class="q1"><span class="verse v16" data-usfm="PRO.31.16"><span class="content">  </span></span><span class="verse v17" data-usfm="PRO.31.17"><span class="label">17</span><span class="content">She sets about her work vigorously;</span></span></div><div class="q2"><span class="verse v17" data-usfm="PRO.31.17"><span class="content">her arms are strong for her tasks.</span></span></div><div class="q1"><span class="verse v17" data-usfm="PRO.31.17"><span class="content">  </span></span><span class="verse v18" data-usfm="PRO.31.18"><span class="label">18</span><span class="content">She sees that her trading is profitable,</span></span></div><div class="q2"><span class="verse v18" data-usfm="PRO.31.18"><span class="content">and her lamp does not go out at night.</span></span></div><div class="q1"><span class="verse v18" data-usfm="PRO.31.18"><span class="content">  </span></span><span class="verse v19" data-usfm="PRO.31.19"><span class="label">19</span><span class="content">In her hand she holds the distaff</span></span></div><div class="q2"><span class="verse v19" data-usfm="PRO.31.19"><span class="content">and grasps the spindle with her fingers.</span></span></div><div class="q1"><span class="verse v19" data-usfm="PRO.31.19"><span class="content">  </span></span><span class="verse v20" data-usfm="PRO.31.20"><span class="label">20</span><span class="content">She opens her arms to the poor</span></span></div><div class="q2"><span class="verse v20" data-usfm="PRO.31.20"><span class="content">and extends her hands to the needy.</span></span></div><div class="q1"><span class="verse v20" data-usfm="PRO.31.20"><span class="content">  </span></span><span class="verse v21" data-usfm="PRO.31.21"><span class="label">21</span><span class="content">When it snows, she has no fear for her household;</span></span></div><div class="q2"><span class="verse v21" data-usfm="PRO.31.21"><span class="content">for all of them are clothed in scarlet.</span></span></div><div class="q1"><span class="verse v21" data-usfm="PRO.31.21"><span class="content">  </span></span><span class="verse v22" data-usfm="PRO.31.22"><span class="label">22</span><span class="content">She makes coverings for her bed;</span></span></div><div class="q2"><span class="verse v22" data-usfm="PRO.31.22"><span class="content">she is clothed in fine linen and purple.</span></span></div><div class="q1"><span class="verse v22" data-usfm="PRO.31.22"><span class="content">  </span></span><span class="verse v23" data-usfm="PRO.31.23"><span class="label">23</span><span class="content">Her husband is respected at the city gate,</span></span></div><div class="q2"><span class="verse v23" data-usfm="PRO.31.23"><span class="content">where he takes his seat among the elders of the land.</span></span></div><div class="q1"><span class="verse v23" data-usfm="PRO.31.23"><span class="content">  </span></span><span class="verse v24" data-usfm="PRO.31.24"><span class="label">24</span><span class="content">She makes linen garments and sells them,</span></span></div><div class="q2"><span class="verse v24" data-usfm="PRO.31.24"><span class="content">and supplies the merchants with sashes.</span></span></div><div class="q1"><span class="verse v24" data-usfm="PRO.31.24"><span class="content">  </span></span><span class="verse v25" data-usfm="PRO.31.25"><span class="label">25</span><span class="content">She is clothed with strength and dignity;</span></span></div><div class="q2"><span class="verse v25" data-usfm="PRO.31.25"><span class="content">she can laugh at the days to come.</span></span></div><div class="q1"><span class="verse v25" data-usfm="PRO.31.25"><span class="content">  </span></span><span class="verse v26" data-usfm="PRO.31.26"><span class="label">26</span><span class="content">She speaks with wisdom,</span></span></div><div class="q2"><span class="verse v26" data-usfm="PRO.31.26"><span class="content">and faithful instruction is on her tongue.</span></span></div><div class="q1"><span class="verse v26" data-usfm="PRO.31.26"><span class="content">  </span></span><span class="verse v27" data-usfm="PRO.31.27"><span class="label">27</span><span class="content">She watches over the affairs of her household</span></span></div><div class="q2"><span class="verse v27" data-usfm="PRO.31.27"><span class="content">and does not eat the bread of idleness.</span></span></div><div class="q1"><span class="verse v27" data-usfm="PRO.31.27"><span class="content">  </span></span><span class="verse v28" data-usfm="PRO.31.28"><span class="label">28</span><span class="content">Her children arise and call her blessed;</span></span></div><div class="q2"><span class="verse v28" data-usfm="PRO.31.28"><span class="content">her husband also, and he praises her:</span></span></div><div class="q1"><span class="verse v28" data-usfm="PRO.31.28"><span class="content">  </span></span><span class="verse v29" data-usfm="PRO.31.29"><span class="label">29</span><span class="content">&#8220;Many women do noble things,</span></span></div><div class="q2"><span class="verse v29" data-usfm="PRO.31.29"><span class="content">but you surpass them all.&#8221;</span></span></div><div class="q1"><span class="verse v29" data-usfm="PRO.31.29"><span class="content">  </span></span><span class="verse v30" data-usfm="PRO.31.30"><span class="label">30</span><span class="content">Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting;</span></span></div><div class="q2"><span class="verse v30" data-usfm="PRO.31.30"><span class="content">but a woman who fears the </span><span class="nd"><span class="content">Lord</span></span><span class="content"> is to be praised.</span></span></div><div class="q1"><span class="verse v30" data-usfm="PRO.31.30"><span class="content">  </span></span><span class="verse v31" data-usfm="PRO.31.31"><span class="label">31</span><span class="content">Honor her for all that her hands have done,</span></span></div><div class="q2"><span class="verse v31" data-usfm="PRO.31.31"><span class="content">and let her works bring her praise at the city gate.</span></span></div>
        </div>
    </div>
</div>

The sayings of King Lemuel—an inspired utterance his mother taught him.
Listen, my son! Listen, son of my womb!
Listen, my son, the answer to my prayers!
Do not spend your strength on women,
your vigor on those who ruin kings.

It is not for kings, Lemuel—
it is not for kings to drink wine,
not for rulers to crave beer,
lest they drink and forget what has been decreed,
and deprive all the oppressed of their rights.
Let beer be for those who are perishing,
wine for those who are in anguish!
Let them drink and forget their poverty
and remember their misery no more.

Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves,
for the rights of all who are destitute.
Speak up and judge fairly;
defend the rights of the poor and needy.

A wife of noble character who can find?
She is worth far more than rubies.
Her husband has full confidence in her
and lacks nothing of value.
She brings him good, not harm,
all the days of her life.
She selects wool and flax
and works with eager hands.
She is like the merchant ships,
bringing her food from afar.
She gets up while it is still night;
she provides food for her family
and portions for her female servants.
She considers a field and buys it;
out of her earnings she plants a vineyard.
She sets about her work vigorously;
her arms are strong for her tasks.
She sees that her trading is profitable,
and her lamp does not go out at night.
In her hand she holds the distaff
and grasps the spindle with her fingers.
She opens her arms to the poor
and extends her hands to the needy.
When it snows, she has no fear for her household;
for all of them are clothed in scarlet.
She makes coverings for her bed;
she is clothed in fine linen and purple.
Her husband is respected at the city gate,
where he takes his seat among the elders of the land.
She makes linen garments and sells them,
and supplies the merchants with sashes.
She is clothed with strength and dignity;
she can laugh at the days to come.
She speaks with wisdom,
and faithful instruction is on her tongue.
She watches over the affairs of her household
and does not eat the bread of idleness.
Her children arise and call her blessed;
her husband also, and he praises her:
“Many women do noble things,
but you surpass them all.”
Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting;
but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.
Honor her for all that her hands have done,
and let her works bring her praise at the city gate.

Lalela Proverbs 31