Proverbs 31
New American Standard Bible
The Words of Lemuel
31 The words of King Lemuel, the pronouncement which his mother taught him:
2 What, my son?
And what, (A)son of my womb?
And what, son of my (B)vows?
3 (C)Do not give your strength to women,
Or your ways to that which (D)destroys kings.
4 It is not for (E)kings, Lemuel,
It is not for kings to (F)drink wine,
Or for rulers to desire intoxicating drink,
5 Otherwise they will drink and forget what is decreed,
And (G)pervert the [a]rights of all the [b]needy.
6 Give intoxicating drink to one who is (H)perishing,
And wine to one [c](I)whose life is bitter.
7 Let him drink and forget his poverty,
And remember his trouble no more.
8 (J)Open your mouth for the people who cannot speak,
For the [d]rights of all the [e]unfortunate.
9 Open your mouth, (K)judge righteously,
And [f]defend the (L)rights of the poor and needy.
Description of a Worthy Woman
10 An (M)excellent wife, who can find her?
For her worth is far (N)above jewels.
11 The heart of her husband trusts in her,
And he will have no lack of gain.
12 She does him good and not evil
All the days of her life.
13 She looks for wool and linen,
And works with her [g]hands [h]in delight.
14 She is like (O)merchant ships;
She brings her food from afar.
15 And she (P)rises while it is still night
And (Q)gives food to her household,
And [i]portions to her attendants.
16 She considers a field and buys it;
From [j]her earnings she plants a vineyard.
17 She (R)surrounds her waist with strength
And makes her arms strong.
18 She senses that her profit is good;
Her lamp does not go out at night.
19 She stretches out her hands to the [k]distaff,
And her [l]hands grasp the spindle.
20 She [m](S)extends her hand to the poor,
And she stretches out her hands to the needy.
21 She is not afraid of the snow for her household,
For all her household are (T)clothed with scarlet.
22 She makes (U)coverings for herself;
Her clothing is (V)fine linen and (W)purple.
23 Her husband is known (X)in the gates,
When he sits among the elders of the land.
24 She makes (Y)linen garments and sells them,
And [n]supplies belts to the [o]tradesmen.
25 Strength and (Z)dignity are her clothing,
And she smiles at the [p]future.
26 She (AA)opens her mouth in wisdom,
And the [q]teaching of kindness is on her tongue.
27 She watches over the activities of her household,
And does not eat the (AB)bread of idleness.
28 Her children rise up and bless her;
Her husband also, and he praises her, saying:
29 “Many daughters have done nobly,
But you excel them all.”
30 Charm is deceitful and beauty is vain,
But a woman who [r](AC)fears the Lord, she shall be praised.
31 Give her the [s]product of her hands,
And let her works praise her in the gates.
Footnotes
- Proverbs 31:5 Lit judgment
- Proverbs 31:5 Lit sons of affliction
- Proverbs 31:6 Lit bitter of soul
- Proverbs 31:8 Lit judgment
- Proverbs 31:8 Lit sons of passing away
- Proverbs 31:9 Lit judge the afflicted
- Proverbs 31:13 Lit palms
- Proverbs 31:13 Or willingly
- Proverbs 31:15 Or prescribed tasks
- Proverbs 31:16 Lit the fruit of her palms
- Proverbs 31:19 I.e., the staff that holds the textile fibers for spinning
- Proverbs 31:19 Lit palms
- Proverbs 31:20 Lit spreads out her palm
- Proverbs 31:24 Lit gives
- Proverbs 31:24 Lit Canaanite
- Proverbs 31:25 Lit latter days
- Proverbs 31:26 Or law
- Proverbs 31:30 Or reveres
- Proverbs 31:31 Lit fruit
Ezekiel 12
New American Standard Bible
Ezekiel Prepares for Exile
12 Then the word of the Lord came to me, saying, 2 “Son of man, you live in the (A)midst of the (B)rebellious house, who (C)have eyes to see but do not see, ears to hear but do not hear; for they are a rebellious house. 3 So as for you, son of man, prepare for yourself baggage for exile and go into exile by day in their sight; that is, go into exile from your place to another place in their sight. (D)Perhaps they will [a]understand, though they are a rebellious house. 4 Bring your baggage out by day in their sight, as baggage for exile. Then you shall go out (E)at evening in their sight, as those who are going into exile. 5 Dig a hole through the wall in their sight and [b]go out through it. 6 Load the baggage on your shoulder in their sight and carry it out in the dark. You shall (F)cover your face so that you cannot see the land, for I have set you as a (G)sign to the house of Israel.”
7 Then I (H)did so, just as I had been commanded. By day I (I)brought out my baggage like the baggage of an exile. Then in the evening I dug through the wall with my hands; I went out in the dark and carried the baggage on my shoulder in their sight.
8 And in the morning the word of the Lord came to me, saying, 9 “Son of man, has the house of Israel, the (J)rebellious house, not said to you, ‘(K)What are you doing?’ 10 Say to them, ‘This is what the Lord [c]God says: “This (L)pronouncement concerns the prince in Jerusalem as well as all the house of Israel who are [d]in it.”’ 11 Say, ‘I am [e]a (M)sign to you. Just as I have done, so it will be done to them; they will (N)go into exile, into captivity.’ 12 The (O)prince who is among them will load his baggage on his shoulder in the dark and go out. [f]They will dig a hole through the wall to bring it out through it. He will cover his face so that he cannot see the land with his eyes. 13 I will also spread My (P)net over him, and he will be caught in My net. And I will bring him to Babylon in the land of the Chaldeans; yet he will (Q)not see it, though he will die there. 14 And I will (R)scatter to every wind all who are around him, his helpers and all his troops; and I will draw out a sword after them. 15 So they will (S)know that I am the Lord, when I disperse them among the nations and scatter them among the countries. 16 But I will [g]spare a few of them from the (T)sword, the famine, and plague so that they may tell of all their abominations among the nations where they go, and [h]may (U)know that I am the Lord.”
17 Moreover, the word of the Lord came to me, saying, 18 “Son of man, (V)eat your bread with trembling, and drink your water with quivering and anxiety. 19 Then say to the people of the land, ‘This is what the Lord God says concerning the inhabitants of Jerusalem in the land of Israel: “They will eat their bread with anxiety and drink their water with horror, because [i]their land will be [j](W)stripped of its fullness on account of the violence of all who live in it. 20 The inhabited (X)cities will be in ruins, and the (Y)land will be a desolation. So you will know that I am the Lord.”’”
21 Then the word of the Lord came to me, saying, 22 “Son of man, what is this (Z)proverb you people have about the land of Israel, saying, ‘The (AA)days are long, and every (AB)vision fails’? 23 Therefore say to them, ‘This is what the Lord God says: “I will put an end to this proverb so that they will no longer use it as a proverb in Israel.” But tell them, “(AC)The days are approaching as well as the [k]fulfillment of every vision. 24 For there will no longer be any [l](AD)false vision or deceptive divination within the house of Israel. 25 For I the Lord will speak whatever (AE)word I speak, and it will be performed. It will no longer be delayed, for in (AF)your days, you (AG)rebellious house, I will speak the word and perform it,” declares the Lord God.’”
26 Furthermore, the word of the Lord came to me, saying, 27 “Son of man, behold, the house of Israel is saying, ‘The vision that he sees is for (AH)many [m]years from now, and he prophesies of times far off.’ 28 Therefore say to them, ‘This is what the Lord God says: “None of My words will be delayed any longer. Whatever word I speak will be performed,”’” declares the Lord God.
Footnotes
- Ezekiel 12:3 Or see that they are
- Ezekiel 12:5 Lit bring it out
- Ezekiel 12:10 Heb YHWH, usually rendered Lord, and so throughout the ch
- Ezekiel 12:10 Lit in their midst
- Ezekiel 12:11 Lit your sign
- Ezekiel 12:12 I.e., the king’s attendants
- Ezekiel 12:16 Lit leave over men
- Ezekiel 12:16 Or they will know
- Ezekiel 12:19 Lit her
- Ezekiel 12:19 Lit deserted
- Ezekiel 12:23 Lit word
- Ezekiel 12:24 Lit worthless
- Ezekiel 12:27 Lit days
Ezekiel 13
New American Standard Bible
False Prophets Condemned
13 Then the word of the Lord came to me, saying, 2 “Son of man, prophesy against the (A)prophets of Israel who prophesy, and say to those who prophesy from their own [a]inspiration, ‘(B)Listen to the word of the Lord! 3 This is what the Lord [b]God says: “Woe to the (C)foolish prophets who are following their own spirit and have (D)seen nothing! 4 Israel, your prophets have been like jackals among ruins. 5 You have not (E)gone up into the (F)breaches, nor did you build up a stone wall around the house of Israel to stand in the battle on the (G)day of the Lord. 6 They see (H)deceit and lying divination, those who are saying, ‘The Lord declares,’ when the Lord has not sent them; (I)yet they wait for the fulfillment of their word! 7 (J)Did you not see a false vision and tell a lying divination when you said, ‘The Lord declares,’ but it is not I who have spoken?”’”
8 Therefore, this is what the Lord God says: “Because you have spoken deceit and have seen a lie, therefore behold, (K)I am against you,” declares the Lord God. 9 “So My hand will be against the (L)prophets who see false visions and utter lying divinations. They will [c]have no place in the council of My people, (M)nor will they be written down in the register of the house of Israel, nor will they enter the land of Israel, [d]so that you may know that I am the Lord God. 10 It is definitely because they have (N)misled My people by saying, ‘(O)Peace!’ when there is (P)no peace. And when anyone builds a wall, behold, they plaster it over with whitewash; 11 so tell those who plaster it over with whitewash, that it will fall. A (Q)flooding rain will come, and you, hailstones, will fall, and a violent wind will break out. 12 Behold, when the wall has fallen, will you not be asked, ‘Where is the plaster with which you plastered it?’” 13 Therefore, this is what the Lord God says: “I will make a violent wind break out in My wrath. There will also be in My anger a flooding rain and (R)hailstones to consume it in wrath. 14 So I will tear down the wall which you plastered over with whitewash and hurl it down to the ground, so that its (S)foundation is exposed; and when it falls, you will (T)perish in its midst. And you will (U)know that I am the Lord. 15 So I will expend My wrath on the wall and on those who have plastered it over with whitewash; and I will say to you, ‘The wall [e]is gone and those who plastered it are gone, 16 along with the prophets of Israel who prophesy to Jerusalem, and who (V)see a vision of peace for her when there is (W)no peace,’ declares the Lord God.
17 “Now you, son of man, set your face against the daughters of your people who are (X)talking like prophets (Y)from their own [f]imagination. Prophesy against them 18 and say, ‘This is what the Lord God says: “Woe to the women who sew magic bands on [g]all wrists and make veils for the heads of persons of every stature to (Z)capture souls! Will you capture the souls of My people, but keep the souls of others alive for yourselves? 19 (AA)For handfuls of barley and pieces of bread, you have profaned Me to My people, to put to death [h]some who should not die, and to (AB)keep [i]others alive who should not live, by your lying to My people who listen to lies.”’”
20 Therefore, this is what the Lord God says: “Behold, I am against your magic bands by which you capture souls there as [j]birds, and I will tear them from your arms; and I will let [k]them go, those souls whom you capture as [l]birds. 21 I will also tear off your veils and (AC)save My people from your hands, and they will no longer be in your hands as prey; and you will know that I am the Lord. 22 Because you (AD)disheartened the righteous with falsehood when I did not cause him pain, but you have [m](AE)encouraged the wicked not to (AF)turn from his wicked way to keep him alive, 23 therefore you women will no longer see (AG)deceitful visions or practice divination, and I will (AH)save My people from your hands. So you will (AI)know that I am the Lord.”
Footnotes
- Ezekiel 13:2 Lit heart
- Ezekiel 13:3 Heb YHWH, usually rendered Lord, and so throughout the ch
- Ezekiel 13:9 Lit not be in
- Ezekiel 13:9 Or and you will know
- Ezekiel 13:15 Lit is not...are not
- Ezekiel 13:17 Lit heart
- Ezekiel 13:18 Lit all joints of the hand; MT of my hands
- Ezekiel 13:19 Lit souls
- Ezekiel 13:19 Lit souls
- Ezekiel 13:20 Or flying ones
- Ezekiel 13:20 Or flying ones
- Ezekiel 13:20 Or flying ones
- Ezekiel 13:22 Lit strengthened the hands of
Ezekiel 14
New American Standard Bible
Idolatrous Elders Condemned
14 Then some (A)elders of Israel came to me and (B)sat down before me. 2 And the word of the Lord came to me, saying, 3 “Son of man, these men have (C)set up their idols in their hearts and have (D)put in front of their faces the stumbling block of their wrongdoing. Should I let Myself be (E)consulted by them at all? 4 Therefore speak to them and tell them, ‘This is what the Lord [a]God says: “Anyone of the house of Israel who sets up his idols in his heart, puts in front of his face the stumbling block of his wrongdoing, and then comes to the prophet, I the Lord will let Myself answer him in [b]the matter in view of the (F)multitude of his idols, 5 in order to take hold of [c](G)the hearts of the house of Israel who have [d](H)turned away from Me due to all their idols.”’
6 “Therefore say to the house of Israel, ‘This is what the Lord God says: “(I)Repent and turn away from your idols, and turn your faces away from all your (J)abominations. 7 For anyone of the house of Israel, or of the (K)strangers who reside in Israel, who deserts Me, sets up his idols in his heart, puts in front of his face the stumbling block of his wrongdoing, and then comes to the prophet to request something of Me for himself, (L)I the Lord will let Myself answer him Myself. 8 I will (M)set My face against that person and make him a (N)sign and [e]a proverb, and I will eliminate him from among My people. So you will know that I am the Lord.
9 “But if the prophet is persuaded so that he speaks a word, it is I, the Lord, who have persuaded that prophet; and I will stretch out My hand against him and (O)eliminate him from among My people Israel. 10 And they will bear the punishment for their wrongdoing; as the wrongdoing of the inquirer is, so the wrongdoing of the prophet will be, 11 in order that the house of Israel may no longer (P)stray from Me and no longer (Q)defile themselves with all their offenses. So they will be (R)My people, and I shall be their God,”’ declares the Lord God.”
The City Will Not Be Spared
12 Then the word of the Lord came to me, saying, 13 “Son of man, if a country sins against Me by (S)being unfaithful, and I stretch out My hand against it, [f]destroy its (T)supply of bread, send famine against it, and eliminate from it both human and animal life, 14 even (U)though these three men, (V)Noah, (W)Daniel, and (X)Job were in its midst, by their own righteousness they could only save (Y)themselves,” declares the Lord God. 15 “If I were to cause (Z)vicious animals to pass through the land and they [g]depopulated it, and it became desolate so that no one would pass through it because of the animals, 16 though these three men were in its midst, as I live,” declares the Lord God, “they could not save either their sons or their daughters. (AA)They alone would be saved, but the country would be desolate. 17 Or if I were to (AB)bring a sword on that country and say, ‘A sword is to pass through the country,’ and I (AC)eliminated human and animal life from it, 18 even though these three men were in its midst, as I live,” declares the Lord God, “they could not save either their sons or their daughters, but they alone would be saved. 19 Or if I were to send a (AD)plague against that country and pour out My wrath on it in blood to eliminate man and animal from it, 20 even though Noah, Daniel, and Job were in its midst, as I live,” declares the Lord God, “they could not save either their son or their daughter. They would save only themselves by their righteousness.”
21 For this is what the Lord God says: “How much more when (AE)I send My four [h]severe judgments against Jerusalem: sword, famine, vicious animals, and plague to eliminate human and animal life from it! 22 Yet, behold, [i]survivors will be left in it who will be brought out, both sons and daughters. Behold, they are going to come out to you, and you will (AF)see their conduct and actions; then you will be (AG)comforted for the disaster which I have brought against Jerusalem for everything which I have brought upon it. 23 Then they will comfort you when you see their conduct and actions, for you will know that I have not done (AH)without reason whatever I did [j]to it,” declares the Lord God.
Footnotes
- Ezekiel 14:4 Heb YHWH, usually rendered Lord, and so throughout the ch
- Ezekiel 14:4 Lit it
- Ezekiel 14:5 Lit their
- Ezekiel 14:5 Or all turned away from Me due to their idols
- Ezekiel 14:8 Lit proverbs
- Ezekiel 14:13 Lit break its staff
- Ezekiel 14:15 Lit bereaved it of children
- Ezekiel 14:21 Lit evil
- Ezekiel 14:22 Lit a survivor
- Ezekiel 14:23 Lit in
Revelation 5
New American Standard Bible
The Scroll with Seven Seals
5 I saw [a]in the right hand of Him who (A)sat on the throne a [b](B)scroll written inside and on the back, (C)sealed up with seven seals. 2 And I saw a (D)strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, “Who is worthy to open the scroll and to break its seals?” 3 And no one (E)in heaven or on the earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll or to look into it. 4 Then I began to weep greatly because no one was found worthy to open the scroll or to look into it. 5 And one of the elders *said to me, “Stop weeping; behold, the (F)Lion that is (G)from the tribe of Judah, the (H)Root of David, has overcome so as to be able to open the scroll and its seven seals.”
6 And I saw [c]between the throne (with the four living creatures) and (I)the elders a (J)Lamb standing, as if (K)slaughtered, having seven (L)horns and (M)seven eyes, which are [d](N)the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth. 7 And He came and took (O)the scroll out of the right hand of Him who (P)sat on the throne. 8 When He had taken the scroll, the (Q)four living creatures and the (R)twenty-four elders (S)fell down before the (T)Lamb, each one holding a (U)harp and (V)golden bowls full of incense, which are the (W)prayers of the [e]saints. 9 And they *sang a (X)new song, saying,
“(Y)Worthy are You to take the scroll and to break its seals; for You were (Z)slaughtered, and You (AA)purchased people for God with Your blood from (AB)every tribe, language, people, and nation.
10 You have made them into a (AC)kingdom and (AD)priests to our God, and they will (AE)reign upon the earth.”
Angels Exalt the Lamb
11 Then I looked, and I heard the voices of many angels (AF)around the throne and the (AG)living creatures and the (AH)elders; and the number of them was [f](AI)myriads of myriads, and thousands of thousands, 12 saying with a loud voice,
“(AJ)Worthy is the (AK)Lamb that was (AL)slaughtered to receive power, wealth, wisdom, might, honor, glory, and blessing.”
13 And I heard (AM)every created thing which is in heaven, or on the earth, or under the earth, or on the sea, and all the things in them, saying,
“To Him who (AN)sits on the throne and to the (AO)Lamb (AP)be the blessing, the honor, the glory, and the dominion forever and ever.”
14 And the (AQ)four living creatures were saying, “(AR)Amen.” And the (AS)elders (AT)fell down and worshiped.
Footnotes
- Revelation 5:1 Lit upon
- Revelation 5:1 Or book, and so throughout the ch
- Revelation 5:6 Lit in the middle of the throne and of the four living creatures, and in the middle of the elders
- Revelation 5:6 Possibly a symbolic reference to the Holy Spirit in His fullness, or to seven key angels
- Revelation 5:8 Lit holy ones; i.e., God’s people
- Revelation 5:11 Gr for 10,000s of 10,000s
New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. All rights reserved.
Bible Gateway Recommends
