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Proverbs 31
New Living Translation
Proverbs 31
New Living Translation
The Sayings of King Lemuel
31 The sayings of King Lemuel contain this message,[a] which his mother taught him.
2 O my son, O son of my womb,
O son of my vows,
3 do not waste your strength on women,
on those who ruin kings.
4 It is not for kings, O Lemuel, to guzzle wine.
Rulers should not crave alcohol.
5 For if they drink, they may forget the law
and not give justice to the oppressed.
6 Alcohol is for the dying,
and wine for those in bitter distress.
7 Let them drink to forget their poverty
and remember their troubles no more.
8 Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves;
ensure justice for those being crushed.
9 Yes, speak up for the poor and helpless,
and see that they get justice.
A Wife of Noble Character
10 [b]Who can find a virtuous and capable wife?
She is more precious than rubies.
11 Her husband can trust her,
and she will greatly enrich his life.
12 She brings him good, not harm,
all the days of her life.
13 She finds wool and flax
and busily spins it.
14 She is like a merchant’s ship,
bringing her food from afar.
15 She gets up before dawn to prepare breakfast for her household
and plan the day’s work for her servant girls.
16 She goes to inspect a field and buys it;
with her earnings she plants a vineyard.
17 She is energetic and strong,
a hard worker.
18 She makes sure her dealings are profitable;
her lamp burns late into the night.
19 Her hands are busy spinning thread,
her fingers twisting fiber.
20 She extends a helping hand to the poor
and opens her arms to the needy.
21 She has no fear of winter for her household,
for everyone has warm[c] clothes.
22 She makes her own bedspreads.
She dresses in fine linen and purple gowns.
23 Her husband is well known at the city gates,
where he sits with the other civic leaders.
24 She makes belted linen garments
and sashes to sell to the merchants.
25 She is clothed with strength and dignity,
and she laughs without fear of the future.
26 When she speaks, her words are wise,
and she gives instructions with kindness.
27 She carefully watches everything in her household
and suffers nothing from laziness.
28 Her children stand and bless her.
Her husband praises her:
29 “There are many virtuous and capable women in the world,
but you surpass them all!”
30 Charm is deceptive, and beauty does not last;
but a woman who fears the Lord will be greatly praised.
31 Reward her for all she has done.
Let her deeds publicly declare her praise.
Proverbi 31
Conferenza Episcopale Italiana
Proverbi 31
Conferenza Episcopale Italiana
VIII. PAROLE DI LEMUEL
31 Parole di Lemuèl, re di Massa,
che sua madre gli insegnò.
2 E che, figlio mio! E che, figlio delle mie viscere!
E che, figlio dei miei voti!
3 Non dare il tuo vigore alle donne,
né i tuoi costumi a quelle che corrompono i re.
4 Non conviene ai re, Lemuèl,
non conviene ai re bere il vino,
né ai principi bramare bevande inebrianti,
5 per paura che, bevendo, dimentichino i loro decreti
e tradiscano il diritto di tutti gli afflitti.
6 Date bevande inebrianti a chi sta per perire
e il vino a chi ha l'amarezza nel cuore.
7 Beva e dimentichi la sua povertà
e non si ricordi più delle sue pene.
8 Apri la bocca in favore del muto
in difesa di tutti gli sventurati.
9 Apri la bocca e giudica con equità
e rendi giustizia all'infelice e al povero.
IX. LA PERFETTA PADRONA DI CASA
10 Una donna perfetta chi potrà trovarla?
Ben superiore alle perle è il suo valore.
11 In lei confida il cuore del marito
e non verrà a mancargli il profitto.
12 Essa gli dà felicità e non dispiacere
per tutti i giorni della sua vita.
13 Si procura lana e lino
e li lavora volentieri con le mani.
14 Ella è simile alle navi di un mercante,
fa venire da lontano le provviste.
15 Si alza quando ancora è notte
e prepara il cibo alla sua famiglia
e dà ordini alle sue domestiche.
16 Pensa ad un campo e lo compra
e con il frutto delle sue mani pianta una vigna.
17 Si cinge con energia i fianchi
e spiega la forza delle sue braccia.
18 E' soddisfatta, perché il suo traffico va bene,
neppure di notte si spegne la sua lucerna.
19 Stende la sua mano alla conocchia
e mena il fuso con le dita.
20 Apre le sue mani al misero,
stende la mano al povero.
21 Non teme la neve per la sua famiglia,
perché tutti i suoi di casa hanno doppia veste.
22 Si fa delle coperte,
di lino e di porpora sono le sue vesti.
23 Suo marito è stimato alle porte della città
dove siede con gli anziani del paese.
24 Confeziona tele di lino e le vende
e fornisce cinture al mercante.
25 Forza e decoro sono il suo vestito
e se la ride dell'avvenire.
26 Apre la bocca con saggezza
e sulla sua lingua c'è dottrina di bontà.
27 Sorveglia l'andamento della casa;
il pane che mangia non è frutto di pigrizia.
28 I suoi figli sorgono a proclamarla beata
e suo marito a farne l'elogio:
29 «Molte figlie hanno compiuto cose eccellenti,
ma tu le hai superate tutte!».
30 Fallace è la grazia e vana è la bellezza,
ma la donna che teme Dio è da lodare.
31 Datele del frutto delle sue mani
e le sue stesse opere la lodino alle porte della città.
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.
New Living Translation (NLT)
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