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Proverbs 31
New International Version
Proverbs 31
New International Version
Sayings of King Lemuel
31 The sayings(A) of King Lemuel—an inspired utterance his mother taught him.
2 Listen, my son! Listen, son of my womb!
Listen, my son, the answer to my prayers!(B)
3 Do not spend your strength[a] on women,
your vigor on those who ruin kings.(C)
4 It is not for kings, Lemuel—
it is not for kings to drink wine,(D)
not for rulers to crave beer,
5 lest they drink(E) and forget what has been decreed,(F)
and deprive all the oppressed of their rights.
6 Let beer be for those who are perishing,
wine(G) for those who are in anguish!
7 Let them drink(H) and forget their poverty
and remember their misery no more.
8 Speak(I) up for those who cannot speak for themselves,
for the rights of all who are destitute.
9 Speak up and judge fairly;
defend the rights of the poor and needy.(J)
Epilogue: The Wife of Noble Character
10 [b]A wife of noble character(K) who can find?(L)
She is worth far more than rubies.
11 Her husband(M) has full confidence in her
and lacks nothing of value.(N)
12 She brings him good, not harm,
all the days of her life.
13 She selects wool and flax
and works with eager hands.(O)
14 She is like the merchant ships,
bringing her food from afar.
15 She gets up while it is still night;
she provides food for her family
and portions for her female servants.
16 She considers a field and buys it;
out of her earnings she plants a vineyard.
17 She sets about her work vigorously;
her arms are strong for her tasks.
18 She sees that her trading is profitable,
and her lamp does not go out at night.
19 In her hand she holds the distaff
and grasps the spindle with her fingers.
20 She opens her arms to the poor
and extends her hands to the needy.(P)
21 When it snows, she has no fear for her household;
for all of them are clothed in scarlet.
22 She makes coverings for her bed;
she is clothed in fine linen and purple.
23 Her husband is respected at the city gate,
where he takes his seat among the elders(Q) of the land.
24 She makes linen garments and sells them,
and supplies the merchants with sashes.
25 She is clothed with strength and dignity;
she can laugh at the days to come.
26 She speaks with wisdom,
and faithful instruction is on her tongue.(R)
27 She watches over the affairs of her household
and does not eat the bread of idleness.
28 Her children arise and call her blessed;
her husband also, and he praises her:
29 “Many women do noble things,
but you surpass them all.”
30 Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting;
but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.
31 Honor her for all that her hands have done,
and let her works bring her praise(S) at the city gate.
Footnotes
- Proverbs 31:3 Or wealth
- Proverbs 31:10 Verses 10-31 are an acrostic poem, the verses of which begin with the successive letters of the Hebrew alphabet.
Proverbs 31
Common English Bible
Proverbs 31
Common English Bible
Words of King Lemuel
31 The words of King Lemuel of Massa, which his mother taught him:
2 No, my son!
No, son of my womb!
No, son of my solemn promises!
3 Don’t give your strength to women,
your ways to those who wipe out kings.
4 It isn’t for kings, Lemuel,
it isn’t for kings to drink wine,
for rulers to crave[a] strong drink.
5 Otherwise, they will drink and forget the law,
and violate the rights of the needy.
6 Give strong drink to those who are perishing
and wine to those whose hearts are bitter.
7 Let them drink and forget their poverty
and no longer remember their toil.
8 Speak out on behalf of the voiceless,
and for the rights of all who are vulnerable.[b]
9 Speak out in order to judge with righteousness
and to defend the needy and the poor.
The competent wife
10 A competent wife, how does one find her?
Her value is far above pearls.
11 Her husband entrusts his heart to her,
and with her he will have all he needs.
12 She brings him good and not trouble
all the days of her life.
13 She seeks out wool and flax;
she works joyfully with her hands.
14 She is like a fleet of merchant ships,
bringing food from a distance.
15 She gets up while it is still night,
providing food for her household,
even some for her female servants.
16 She surveys a field and acquires it;
from her own resources, she plants a vineyard.
17 She works energetically;
her arms are powerful.
18 She realizes that her trading is successful;
she doesn’t put out her lamp at night.
19 She puts her hands to the spindle;
her palms grasp the whorl.
20 She reaches out to the needy;
she stretches out her hands to the poor.
21 She doesn’t fear for her household when it snows,
because they are all dressed in warm[c] clothes.
22 She makes bedspreads for herself;
fine linen and purple are her clothing.
23 Her husband is known in the city gates
when he sits with the elders of the land.
24 She makes garments and sells them;
she supplies sashes to traders.
25 Strength and honor are her clothing;
she is confident about the future.
26 Her mouth is full of wisdom;
kindly teaching is on her tongue.
27 She is vigilant over the activities of her household;
she doesn’t eat the food of laziness.
28 Her children bless her;
her husband praises her:
29 “Many women act competently,
but you surpass them all!”
30 Charm is deceptive and beauty fleeting,
but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.
31 Let her share in the results of her work;
let her deeds praise her in the city gates.
Footnotes
- Proverbs 31:4 Or where or or
- Proverbs 31:8 Or all children who are passing away
- Proverbs 31:21 LXX; MT red
Proverbs 31
King James Version
Proverbs 31
King James Version
31 The words of king Lemuel, the prophecy that his mother taught him.
2 What, my son? and what, the son of my womb? and what, the son of my vows?
3 Give not thy strength unto women, nor thy ways to that which destroyeth kings.
4 It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine; nor for princes strong drink:
5 Lest they drink, and forget the law, and pervert the judgment of any of the afflicted.
6 Give strong drink unto him that is ready to perish, and wine unto those that be of heavy hearts.
7 Let him drink, and forget his poverty, and remember his misery no more.
8 Open thy mouth for the dumb in the cause of all such as are appointed to destruction.
9 Open thy mouth, judge righteously, and plead the cause of the poor and needy.
10 Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies.
11 The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil.
12 She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life.
13 She seeketh wool, and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands.
14 She is like the merchants' ships; she bringeth her food from afar.
15 She riseth also while it is yet night, and giveth meat to her household, and a portion to her maidens.
16 She considereth a field, and buyeth it: with the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard.
17 She girdeth her loins with strength, and strengtheneth her arms.
18 She perceiveth that her merchandise is good: her candle goeth not out by night.
19 She layeth her hands to the spindle, and her hands hold the distaff.
20 She stretcheth out her hand to the poor; yea, she reacheth forth her hands to the needy.
21 She is not afraid of the snow for her household: for all her household are clothed with scarlet.
22 She maketh herself coverings of tapestry; her clothing is silk and purple.
23 Her husband is known in the gates, when he sitteth among the elders of the land.
24 She maketh fine linen, and selleth it; and delivereth girdles unto the merchant.
25 Strength and honour are her clothing; and she shall rejoice in time to come.
26 She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness.
27 She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness.
28 Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her.
29 Many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all.
30 Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the Lord, she shall be praised.
31 Give her of the fruit of her hands; and let her own works praise her in the gates.
Proverbios 31
Nueva Versión Internacional
Proverbios 31
Nueva Versión Internacional
Dichos del rey Lemuel
31 Los dichos del rey Lemuel. Mensaje mediante el cual[a] su madre lo instruyó:
2 «¿Qué pasa, hijo mío?
¿Qué pasa, hijo de mis entrañas?
¿Qué pasa, fruto de mis promesas?[b]
3 No gastes tu vigor en las mujeres
ni tu fuerza en las que arruinan a los reyes.
4 »No conviene que los reyes, Lemuel,
no conviene que los reyes se den al vino
ni que los gobernantes se entreguen a la cerveza;
5 no sea que al beber se olviden de lo que la ley ordena
y priven de sus derechos a todos los oprimidos.
6 Dales cerveza a los que están por morir
y vino a los amargados;
7 ¡que beban y se olviden de su pobreza!
¡que no vuelvan a acordarse de sus penas!
8 »¡Levanta la voz por los que no tienen voz!
¡Defiende los derechos de los desposeídos!
9 ¡Levanta la voz y hazles justicia!
¡Defiende a los pobres y necesitados!».
Epílogo: Acróstico a la mujer ejemplar[c]
Álef
10 Mujer ejemplar,[d] ¿dónde se hallará?
¡Es más valiosa que las piedras preciosas!
Bet
11 Su esposo confía plenamente en ella
y no le faltarán ganancias.
Guímel
12 Ella le es fuente de bien, no de mal,
todos los días de su vida.
Dálet
13 Anda en busca de lana y de lino,
y gustosa trabaja con sus manos.
He
14 Es como los barcos mercantes,
que traen de muy lejos su alimento.
Vav
15 Se levanta de madrugada,
da de comer a su familia
y asigna tareas a sus criadas.
Zayin
16 Calcula el valor de un campo y lo compra;
con sus ganancias[e] planta un viñedo.
Jet
17 Decidida se ciñe la cintura,[f]
pues sus brazos están fuertes para el trabajo.
Tet
18 Se complace en la prosperidad de sus negocios;
no se apaga su lámpara en la noche.
Yod
19 Con sus manos sostiene el telar
y con sus dedos maneja el hilo.
Caf
20 Tiende la mano al pobre
y con ella sostiene al necesitado.
Lámed
21 Si nieva, no tiene que preocuparse de su familia,
pues todos están bien abrigados.
Mem
22 Prepara las mantas para su cama;
se viste de lana color púrpura y tela de lino fino.
Nun
23 Su esposo es respetado en las puertas de la ciudad;
ocupa un puesto entre las autoridades del lugar.
Sámej
24 Confecciona ropa de lino y la vende;
provee cinturones a los comerciantes.
Ayin
25 Se reviste de fuerza y dignidad
y afronta segura el porvenir.
Pe
26 Cuando habla, lo hace con sabiduría;
cuando instruye, lo hace con amor.
Tsade
27 Está atenta a la marcha de su hogar
y el pan que come no es fruto del ocio.
Qof
28 Sus hijos se levantan y la felicitan;
también su esposo la alaba:
Resh
29 «Muchas mujeres han realizado proezas,
pero tú las superas a todas».
Shin
30 Engañoso es el encanto y pasajera la belleza;
la mujer que teme al Señor es digna de alabanza.
Tav
31 ¡Sean reconocidos[g] sus logros
y en las puertas de la ciudad sean alabadas sus obras!
Footnotes
- 31:1 Lemuel. … cual. Alt. Lemuel de Masa, mediante los cuales.
- 31:2 fruto de mis promesas? Alt. respuesta a mis oraciones.
- 31:10-31 Los vv. 10-31 son un acróstico, en que cada verso comienza con una de las letras del alfabeto hebreo.
- 31:10 ejemplar. Alt. fuerte.
- 31:16 sus ganancias. Lit. el fruto de sus manos.
- 31:17 se ciñe la cintura. Lit. se ciñe con fuerza sus lomos.
- 31:31 Sean reconocidos. Alt. Denle.
New International Version (NIV) 
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NIV Reverse Interlinear Bible: English to Hebrew and English to Greek. Copyright © 2019 by Zondervan.
Common English Bible (CEB)
Copyright © 2011 by Common English Bible
Nueva Versión Internacional (NVI) 
Santa Biblia, NUEVA VERSIÓN INTERNACIONAL® NVI® © 1999, 2015, 2022 por Biblica, Inc.®, Inc.® Usado con permiso de Biblica, Inc.® Reservados todos los derechos en todo el mundo. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.