Proverbs 31
Modern English Version
The Sayings of King Lemuel’s Mother
31 The words of King Lemuel, an oracle that 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 your strength to women,
nor your ways to that which destroys 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 justice of any of the afflicted.
6 Give strong drink to him who is ready to perish,
and wine to those who are of heavy hearts.
7 Let him drink, and forget his poverty,
and remember his misery no more.
8 Open your mouth for the speechless
in the cause of all such as are appointed to destruction.
9 Open your mouth, judge righteously,
and plead the cause of the poor and needy.
Epilogue: The Virtuous Wife
10 Who can find a virtuous woman?
For her worth is far above rubies.
11 The heart of her husband safely trusts in her,
so that he will have no lack of gain.
12 She will do him good and not evil
all the days of her life.
13 She seeks wool and flax,
and works willingly with her hands.
14 She is like the merchant ships,
she brings her food from afar.
15 She also rises while it is yet night,
and gives food to her household,
and a portion to her maidens.
16 She considers a field and buys it;
with the fruit of her hands she plants a vineyard.
17 She clothes herself with strength,
and strengthens her arms.
18 She perceives that her merchandise is good;
her candle does not go out by night.
19 She lays her hands to the spindle,
and her hands hold the distaff.
20 She stretches out her hand to the poor;
yes, she reaches 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 makes herself coverings of tapestry;
her clothing is silk and purple.
23 Her husband is known in the gates,
when he sits among the elders of the land.
24 She makes fine linen and sells it,
and delivers sashes to the merchant.
25 Strength and honor are her clothing,
and she will rejoice in time to come.
26 She opens her mouth with wisdom,
and in her tongue is the teaching of kindness.
27 She looks well to 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 virtuously,
but you excel them all.”
30 Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain,
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.
Proverbs 31
Complete Jewish Bible
31 The words of King L’mu’el, the prophecy with which his mother disciplined him:
2 No, my son! No, son of my womb!
No, son of my vows!
3 Don’t give your strength to women
or your ways to that which destroys kings.
4 It is not for kings, L’mu’el,
not for kings to drink wine;
it is not for rulers to ask,
“Where can I find strong liquor?”
5 For they may drink, then forget what has been decreed,
and pervert the justice due to the poor.
6 Give strong liquor to one who is perishing,
wine to the deeply depressed;
7 let him drink, forget his poverty
and cease to remember his troubles.
8 Speak up for those who can’t speak for themselves,
for the rights of all who need an advocate.
9 Speak up, judge righteously,
defend the cause of the poor and the needy.
א 10 Who can find a capable wife?
Her value is far beyond that of pearls.
ב 11 Her husband trusts her from his heart,
and she will prove a great asset to him.
ג 12 She works to bring him good, not harm,
all the days of her life.
ד 13 She procures a supply of wool and flax
and works with willing hands.
ה 14 She is like those merchant vessels,
bringing her food from far away.
ו 15 It’s still dark when she rises to give food to her household
and orders to the young women serving her.
ז 16 She considers a field, then buys it,
and from her earnings she plants a vineyard.
ח 17 She gathers her strength around her
and throws herself into her work.
ט 18 She sees that her business affairs go well;
her lamp stays lit at night.
י 19 She puts her hands to the staff with the flax;
her fingers hold the spinning rod.
כ 20 She reaches out to embrace the poor
and opens her arms to the needy.
ל 21 When it snows, she has no fear for her household;
since all of them are doubly clothed.
מ 22 She makes her own quilts;
she is clothed in fine linen and purple.
נ 23 Her husband is known at the city gates
when he sits with the leaders of the land.
ס 24 She makes linen garments and sells them;
she supplies the merchants with sashes.
ע 25 Clothed with strength and dignity,
she can laugh at the days to come.
פ 26 When she opens her mouth, she speaks wisely;
on her tongue is loving instruction.
צ 27 She watches how things go in her house,
not eating the bread of idleness.
ק 28 Her children arise; they make her happy;
her husband too, as he praises her:
ר 29 “Many women have done wonderful things,
but you surpass them all!”
ש 30 Charm can lie, beauty can vanish,
but a woman who fears Adonai should be praised.
ת 31 Give her a share in what she produces;
let her works speak her praises at the city gates.
The Holy Bible, Modern English Version. Copyright © 2014 by Military Bible Association. Published and distributed by Charisma House.
Copyright © 1998 by David H. Stern. All rights reserved.