Proverbs 31
Holman 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, they[b] will drink,
forget what is decreed,(G)
and pervert justice for all the oppressed.[c](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[d] for those who have no voice,[e](K)
for the justice of all who are dispossessed.[f]
9 Speak up,[g] judge righteously,(L)
and defend the cause of[h] the oppressed and needy.(M)
In Praise of a Capable Wife
10 Who can find a capable wife?[i](N)
She is far more precious than jewels.[j]
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[k] for her female servants.(Q)
16 She evaluates a field and buys it;
she plants a vineyard with her earnings.[l](R)
17 She draws on her strength[m]
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[n] 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.[o]
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[p] to the merchants.
25 Strength(AA) and honor are her clothing,(AB)
and she can laugh at the time to come.(AC)
26 She opens her mouth with wisdom
and loving instruction[q] is on her tongue.
27 She watches over the activities of her household(AD)
and is never idle.[r]
28 Her sons rise up and call her blessed.
Her husband also praises her:
29 “Many women[s] are capable,
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,[t]
and let her works praise her at the city gates.
Footnotes
- Proverbs 31:1 Or of Lemuel, king of Massa, or of King Lemuel, a burden
- Proverbs 31:5 Lit he
- Proverbs 31:5 Lit sons of affliction
- Proverbs 31:8 Lit Open your mouth
- Proverbs 31:8 Lit who are mute
- Proverbs 31:8 Lit all the sons of passing away
- Proverbs 31:9 Lit Open your mouth
- Proverbs 31:9 Lit and justice for
- Proverbs 31:10 Or a wife of quality, or a wife of noble character
- Proverbs 31:10 Vv. 10-31 form an acrostic.
- Proverbs 31:15 Or tasks
- Proverbs 31:16 Or vineyard by her own labors
- Proverbs 31:17 Lit She wraps strength around her like a belt
- Proverbs 31:20 Lit Her hand reaches
- Proverbs 31:21 LXX, Vg; MT reads are dressed in scarlet
- Proverbs 31:24 Or sashes
- Proverbs 31:26 Or and the teaching of kindness
- Proverbs 31:27 Lit and does not eat the bread of idleness
- Proverbs 31:29 Lit daughters
- Proverbs 31:31 Lit the fruit of her hands
Proverbs 31
Lexham English Bible
The Oracle of King Lemuel
31 The words of Lemuel, the king—an oracle
that his mother taught him:
2 What, my son? And what, my son in my womb?
And what, son of my vows?
3 Do not give your strength to the women,
and your ways to destroy kings.
4 It is not for the kings, O Lemuel;
drinking wine is not for the kings,
nor is strong drink for rulers.
5 Or else he will drink and forget what has been decreed,
and he will pervert the rights[a] of all the afflicted.[b]
6 Give strong drink to him who is perishing,
and wine to those in bitter distress.[c]
7 He will drink and forget his poverty,
and his misery he will not remember any more.
8 Open your mouth for the mute,
for the rights[d] of all the needy.[e]
9 Open your mouth, judge righteousness,
and defend the poor and needy.
An Excellent Woman[f]
10 A woman[g] of excellence,[h] who will find?
For her worth is far more than precious jewels.
11 The heart of her husband[i] trusts in her,
and gain he will not lack.
12 She does him good, but not harm
all the days of her life.
13 She seeks wool and flax,
and she works with the diligence of her hands.[j]
14 She is like the ships of a merchant;
from far off she brings her food;[k]
15 And she arises while it is still night,
and gives food to her household,
and tasks to her servant girls.
16 She considers a field and buys it,
from the fruit of her hand[l] she plants a vineyard.
17 She girds her waist in strength,
and makes her arms strong.
18 She perceives that her merchandise is good;
her lamp does not go out in the night.
19 Her hands she puts onto the distaff,[m]
and her palms hold a spindle.
20 Her palm she opens to the poor,
and her hand she reaches out to the needy.
21 She does not fear for her house when it snows,
for her entire household[n] is clothed in crimson.
22 She makes for herself coverings;
her clothing is fine linen and purple.
23 Her husband[o] is known at the gates,
in his seat among the elders of the land.
24 Linen garments she makes and sells,
and she supplies sashes for the merchants.
25 Strength and dignity are her clothing,
and she laughs at the future.[p]
26 She opens her mouth with wisdom,
and instruction of kindness is upon her tongue.
27 She looks after the ways of her household,
and the bread of idleness she will not eat.
28 Her children rise and consider her happy,
her husband[q] also, and he praises her;
29 “Many daughters have done excellence,[r]
but you surpass[s] all of them.”
30 Charm[t] is deceit and beauty[u] is vain;[v]
but a woman who fears Yahweh shall be praised.
31 Give to her from the fruit of her hand,
and may they praise her works in the city gates.
Footnotes
- Proverbs 31:5 Hebrew “right”
- Proverbs 31:5 Literally “sons of affliction”
- Proverbs 31:6 Literally “to bitterness of soul”
- Proverbs 31:8 Hebrew “right”
- Proverbs 31:8 Literally “the sons of the needy”
- Proverbs 31:10 Prov 31:10–31 is an acrostic poem
- Proverbs 31:10 Or “wife”
- Proverbs 31:10 Or “strength,” or “valor,” or “ability,” or “efficiency”
- Proverbs 31:11 Or “lord”
- Proverbs 31:13 Literally “her palms”
- Proverbs 31:14 Or “bread”
- Proverbs 31:16 Literally “her palm”
- Proverbs 31:19 A stick or spindle onto which wool or flax is wound in preparation for spinning
- Proverbs 31:21 Literally “all her house, household”
- Proverbs 31:23 Or “lord”
- Proverbs 31:25 Literally “to the day/time coming after”
- Proverbs 31:28 Or “lord”
- Proverbs 31:29 Or “strength,” or “valor,” or “ability,” or “efficiency”
- Proverbs 31:29 Literally “you ascend over”
- Proverbs 31:30 Hebrew “The charm”
- Proverbs 31:30 Hebrew “the beauty”
- Proverbs 31:30 Or “vapor,” or “emptiness,” or “breath”
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