Proverbs 31
Jubilee Bible 2000
31 ¶ The words of King Lemuel, the prophecy with which his mother taught him.
2 What, my son? and what, the son of my womb? and what, the son of my vows?
3 Do not give thy strength nor thy ways unto the women who destroy kings.
4 It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine; nor is beer for princes
5 lest they drink and forget the law and pervert the judgment of any of the afflicted.
6 Give beer unto him that is ready to perish and wine unto those that have heavy hearts.
7 They drink and forget their need and remember their misery no more.
8 Open thy mouth for those who cannot speak in the judgment of all the sons of death.
9 Open thy mouth, judge righteously, and plead the cause of the poor and destitute.
Aleph
10 ¶ Who can find a valiant woman? for her price is far above precious stones.
Beth
11 The heart of her husband safely trusts in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil.
Gimel
12 She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life.
Daleth
13 She sought wool and flax and worked willingly with her hands.
He
14 She was like the merchants’ ships; she brings her food from afar.
Vau
15 She rose up even at night and gave food to her family and a portion to her maidens.
Zain
16 She considered the inheritance and bought it; with the fruit of her hands she planted a vineyard.
Cheth
17 She girded her loins with strength and strengthened her arms.
Teth
18 She perceived that her merchandise was good; her fire did not go out by night.
Jod
19 She laid her hands to the spindle, and her hands held the distaff.
Caph
20 She stretched out her hand to the poor; yea, she reached forth her hands to the destitute.
Lamed
21 She shall not be afraid of the snow for her family, for all her family is clothed with double garments.
Mem
22 She makes herself tapestries; her clothing is of fine linen and purple.
Nun
23 Her husband is known in the gates when he sits among the elders of the land.
Samech
24 She made fine linen and sold it and delivered girdles unto the merchant.
Ain
25 Strength and glory is her clothing, and she shall laugh in the last day.
Pe
26 She opened her mouth with wisdom, and the law of mercy is upon her tongue.
Tzaddi
27 She looks well to the ways of her household and does not eat bread in idleness.
Koph
28 Her sons rose up and called her blessed; her husband also, and he praised her.
Resh
29 Many daughters have done valiantly, but thou dost excel them all.
Schin
30 Grace is deceitful, and beauty is vain, but the woman that fears the LORD shall be praised.
Tau
31 Give her of the fruit of her hands, and let her own works praise her in the gates.
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
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