Proverbs 31
Christian Standard Bible
The Words of Lemuel
2 What should I say, my son?
What, son of my womb?(B)
What, son of my vows?
3 Don’t spend your energy(C) on women
or your efforts on those who destroy kings.(D)
4 It is not for kings, Lemuel,
it is not for kings(E) to drink wine(F)
or for rulers to desire beer.
5 Otherwise, he will drink,
forget what is decreed,(G)
and pervert justice for all the oppressed.[b](H)
6 Give beer to one who is dying
and wine to one whose life is bitter.(I)
7 Let him drink so that he can forget his poverty
and remember his trouble no more.(J)
8 Speak up[c] for those who have no voice,[d](K)
for the justice of all who are dispossessed.[e]
9 Speak up, judge righteously,(L)
and defend the cause of the oppressed and needy.(M)
In Praise of a Wife of Noble Character
10 Who can find a wife of noble character?[f](N)
She is far more precious than jewels.[g]
11 The heart of her husband trusts in her,
and he will not lack anything good.
12 She rewards him with good, not evil,
all the days of her life.
13 She selects wool and flax
and works with willing hands.
14 She is like the merchant ships,
bringing her food from far away.(O)
15 She rises while it is still night(P)
and provides food for her household
and portions[h] for her female servants.(Q)
16 She evaluates a field and buys it;
she plants a vineyard with her earnings.[i](R)
17 She draws on her strength[j]
and reveals that her arms are strong.(S)
18 She sees that her profits are good,
and her lamp never goes out at night.(T)
19 She extends her hands to the spinning staff,
and her hands hold the spindle.(U)
20 Her hands reach[k] out to the poor,
and she extends her hands to the needy.(V)
21 She is not afraid for her household when it snows,
for all in her household are doubly clothed.[l]
22 She makes her own bed coverings;(W)
her clothing is fine linen(X) and purple.(Y)
23 Her husband is known at the city gates,
where he sits among the elders of the land.(Z)
24 She makes and sells linen garments;
she delivers belts[m] to the merchants.
25 Strength(AA) and honor are her clothing,(AB)
and she can laugh at the time to come.(AC)
26 Her mouth speaks wisdom,
and loving instruction[n] is on her tongue.
27 She watches over the activities of her household(AD)
and is never idle.[o]
28 Her children rise up and call her blessed;
her husband also praises her:
29 “Many women[p] have done noble deeds,
but you surpass them all!” (AE)
30 Charm is deceptive and beauty is fleeting,(AF)
but a woman who fears the Lord will be praised.
31 Give her the reward of her labor,[q]
and let her works praise her at the city gates.
Footnotes
- 31:1 Or of Lemuel, king of Massa, or of King Lemuel, a burden
- 31:5 Lit sons of affliction
- 31:8 Lit Open your mouth, also in v. 9
- 31:8 Lit who are mute
- 31:8 Lit all the sons of passing away
- 31:10 Or a wife of quality, or a capable wife
- 31:10 Vv. 10–31 form an acrostic.
- 31:15 Or tasks
- 31:16 Or vineyard by her own labors
- 31:17 Lit She wraps strength around her like a belt
- 31:20 Lit Her hand reaches
- 31:21 LXX, Vg; MT reads are dressed in scarlet
- 31:24 Or sashes
- 31:26 Or and the teaching of kindness
- 31:27 Lit and does not eat the bread of idleness
- 31:29 Lit daughters
- 31:31 Lit the fruit of her hands
Proverbs 31
Douay-Rheims 1899 American Edition
31 The words of king Lamuel. The vision wherewith his mother instructed him.
2 What, O my beloved, what, O the beloved of my womb, what, O the beloved of my vows?
3 Give not thy substance to women, and thy riches to destroy kings.
4 Give not to kings, O Lamuel, give not wine to kings: because there is no secret where drunkenness reigneth:
5 And lest they drink and forget judgments, and pervert the cause of the children of the poor.
6 Give strong drink to them that are sad: and wine to them that are grieved in mind:
7 Let them drink, and forget their want, and remember their sorrow no more.
8 Open thy mouth for the dumb, and for the causes of all the children that pass.
9 Open thy mouth, decree that which is just, and do justice to the needy and poor.
10 Who shall find a valiant woman? far and from the uttermost coasts is the price of her.
11 The heart of her husband trusteth in her, and he shall have no need of spoils.
12 She will render him good, and not evil, all the days of her life.
13 She hath sought wool and flax, and hath wrought by the counsel of her hands.
14 She is like the merchant's ship, she bringeth her bread from afar.
15 And she hath risen in the night, and given a prey to her household, and victuals to her maidens.
16 She hath considered a field, and bought it: with the fruit of her hands she hath planted a vineyard.
17 She hath girded her loins with strength, and hath strengthened her arm.
18 She hath tasted and seen that her traffic is good: her lamp shall not be put out in the night.
19 She hath put out her hand to strong things, and her fingers have taken hold of the spindle.
20 She hath opened her hand to the needy, and stretched out her hands to the poor.
21 She shall not fear for her house in the cold of snow: for all her domestics are clothed with double garments.
22 She hath made for herself clothing of tapestry: fine linen, and purple is her covering.
23 Her husband is honourable in the gates, when he sitteth among the senators of the land.
24 She made fine linen, and sold it, and delivered a girdle to the Chanaanite.
25 Strength and beauty are her clothing, and she shall laugh in the latter day.
26 She hath opened her mouth to wisdom, and the law of clemency is on her tongue.
27 She hath looked well to the paths of her house, and hath not eaten her bread idle.
28 Her children rose up, and called her blessed: her husband, and he praised her.
29 Many daughters have gathered together riches: thou hast surpassed them all.
30 Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: the woman that feareth the Lord, she shall be praised.
31 Give her of the fruit of her hands: and let her works praise her in the gates.
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