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Proverbs 31
Christian Standard Bible Anglicised
Proverbs 31
Christian Standard Bible Anglicised
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 honour 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 labour,[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 labours
- 31:17 Lit She wraps strength round 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
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.
Proverbios 31
Nueva Versión Internacional (Castilian)
Proverbios 31
Nueva Versión Internacional (Castilian)
Dichos del rey Lemuel
31 Los dichos del rey Lemuel. Oráculo mediante el cual[a] su madre lo instruyó:
2 «¿Qué pasa, hijo mío?
¿Qué pasa, hijo de mis entrañas?
¿Qué pasa, fruto de mis votos[b] al Señor?
3 No gastes tu vigor en las mujeres,
ni tu fuerza[c] en las que arruinan a los reyes.
4 »No conviene que los reyes, oh Lemuel,
no conviene que los reyes se den al vino,
ni que los gobernantes se entreguen al licor,
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 licor a los moribundos,
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[d]
Álef
10 Mujer ejemplar,[e] ¿dónde se hallará?
¡Es más valiosa que las piedras preciosas!
Bet
11 Su esposo confía plenamente en ella
y no necesita de ganancias mal adquiridas.
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[f] a su familia
y asigna tareas a sus criadas.
Zayin
16 Calcula el valor de un campo y lo compra;
con sus ganancias[g] planta un viñedo.
Jet
17 Decidida se ciñe la cintura[h]
y se apresta para el trabajo.
Tet
18 Se complace en la prosperidad de sus negocios,
y no se apaga su lámpara por la noche.
Yod
19 Con una mano sostiene el huso
y con la otra tuerce 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 Las colchas las cose ella misma,
y se viste de púrpura y lino fino.
Nun
23 Su esposo es respetado en la comunidad;[i]
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
Footnotes
- 31:1 Lemuel. Oráculo mediante el cual. Alt. Lemuel de Masa, mediante los cuales.
- 31:2 fruto de mis votos. Alt. respuesta a mis oraciones.
- 31:3 tu fuerza. Lit. tus caminos.
- 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.
- 31:15 da de comer. Lit. da presa.
- 31:16 sus ganancias. Lit. el fruto de sus manos.
- 31:17 se ciñe la cintura. Lit. se ciñe con fuerza sus lomos.
- 31:23 en la comunidad. Lit. en las puertas.
- 31:31 Sean reconocidos. Alt. Denle.
- 31:31 públicamente. Lit. en las puertas.
Proverbs 31
New King James Version
Proverbs 31
New King James Version
The Words of King Lemuel’s Mother
31 The words of King Lemuel, the utterance which his mother taught him:
2 What, my son?
And what, son of my womb?
And what, (A)son of my vows?
3 (B)Do not give your strength to women,
Nor your ways (C)to that which destroys kings.
4 (D)It is not for kings, O Lemuel,
It is not for kings to drink wine,
Nor for princes intoxicating drink;
5 (E)Lest they drink and forget the law,
And pervert the justice of all [a]the afflicted.
6 (F)Give strong drink to him who is perishing,
And wine to those who are bitter of heart.
7 Let him drink and forget his poverty,
And remember his misery no more.
8 (G)Open your mouth for the speechless,
In the cause of all who are [b]appointed to die.
9 Open your mouth, (H)judge righteously,
And (I)plead the cause of the poor and needy.
The Virtuous Wife
10 (J)Who[c] can find a [d]virtuous wife?
For her worth is far above rubies.
11 The heart of her husband safely trusts her;
So he will have no lack of gain.
12 She does him good and not evil
All the days of her life.
13 She seeks wool and flax,
And willingly works with her hands.
14 She is like the merchant ships,
She brings her food from afar.
15 (K)She also rises while it is yet night,
And (L)provides food for her household,
And a portion for her maidservants.
16 She considers a field and buys it;
From [e]her profits she plants a vineyard.
17 She girds herself with strength,
And strengthens her arms.
18 She perceives that her merchandise is good,
And her lamp does not go out by night.
19 She stretches out her hands to the distaff,
And her hand holds the spindle.
20 (M)She extends her hand to the poor,
Yes, she reaches out her hands to the needy.
21 She is not afraid of snow for her household,
For all her household is clothed with scarlet.
22 She makes tapestry for herself;
Her clothing is fine linen and purple.
23 (N)Her husband is known in the gates,
When he sits among the elders of the land.
24 She makes linen garments and sells them,
And supplies sashes for the merchants.
25 Strength and honor are her clothing;
She shall rejoice in time to come.
26 She opens her mouth with wisdom,
And on her tongue is the law of kindness.
27 She watches over the ways of her household,
And does not eat the bread of idleness.
28 Her children rise up and call her blessed;
Her husband also, and he praises her:
29 “Many daughters have done well,
But you excel them all.”
30 Charm is deceitful and beauty is passing,
But a woman who fears 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.
Footnotes
- Proverbs 31:5 Lit. sons of affliction
- Proverbs 31:8 Lit. sons of passing away
- Proverbs 31:10 Vv. 10–31 are an alphabetic acrostic in Hebrew; cf. Ps. 119
- Proverbs 31:10 Lit. a wife of valor, in the sense of all forms of excellence
- Proverbs 31:16 Lit. the fruit of her hands
Christian Standard Bible Anglicised (CSBA)
Copyright © 2024 by Holman Bible Publishers.
New International Version (NIV) 
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
NIV Reverse Interlinear Bible: English to Hebrew and English to Greek. Copyright © 2019 by Zondervan.
Nueva Versión Internacional (Castilian) (CST)
Santa Biblia, NUEVA VERSIÓN INTERNACIONAL® NVI® (Castellano) © 1999, 2005, 2017 por Biblica, Inc.® Usado con permiso de Biblica, Inc.® Reservados todos los derechos en todo el mundo.
New King James Version (NKJV) 
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.