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31 The words of king Lemuel, the prophecy that his mother taught him.

What, my son? and what, the son of my womb?
and what, the son of my vows?
Give not thy strength unto women,
nor thy ways to that which destroyeth kings.
It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine;
nor for princes strong drink:
lest they drink, and forget the law,
and pervert the judgment of any of the afflicted.
Give strong drink unto him that is ready to perish,
and wine unto those that be of heavy hearts.
Let him drink, and forget his poverty,
and remember his misery no more.
Open thy mouth for the dumb
in the cause of all such as are appointed to destruction.
Open thy mouth, judge righteously,
and plead the cause of the poor and needy.

10 Who can find a virtuous woman?
for her price is far above rubies.
11 The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her,
so that he shall have no need of spoil.
12 She will do him good and not evil
all the days of her life.
13 She seeketh wool, and flax,
and worketh willingly with her hands.
14 She is like the merchants’ ships;
she bringeth her food from afar.
15 She riseth also while it is yet night,
and giveth meat to her household,
and a portion to her maidens.
16 She considereth a field, and buyeth it:
with the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard.
17 She girdeth her loins with strength,
and strengtheneth her arms.
18 She perceiveth that her merchandise is good:
her candle goeth not out by night.
19 She layeth her hands to the spindle,
and her hands hold the distaff.
20 She stretcheth out her hand to the poor;
yea, she reacheth 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 maketh herself coverings of tapestry;
her clothing is silk and purple.
23 Her husband is known in the gates,
when he sitteth among the elders of the land.
24 She maketh fine linen, and selleth it;
and delivereth girdles unto the merchant.
25 Strength and honour are her clothing;
and she shall rejoice in time to come.
26 She openeth her mouth with wisdom;
and in her tongue is the law of kindness.
27 She looketh well to the ways of her household,
and eateth not the bread of idleness.
28 Her children arise up, and call her blessed;
her husband also, and he praiseth her.
29 Many daughters have done virtuously,
but thou excellest them all.
30 Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain:
but a woman that feareth 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.

The Words of King Lemuel’s Mother

31 The words of King Lemuel, the utterance which his mother taught him:

What, my son?
And what, son of my womb?
And what, (A)son of my vows?
(B)Do not give your strength to women,
Nor your ways (C)to that which destroys kings.

(D)It is not for kings, O Lemuel,
It is not for kings to drink wine,
Nor for princes intoxicating drink;
(E)Lest they drink and forget the law,
And pervert the justice of all [a]the afflicted.
(F)Give strong drink to him who is perishing,
And wine to those who are bitter of heart.
Let him drink and forget his poverty,
And remember his misery no more.

(G)Open your mouth for the speechless,
In the cause of all who are [b]appointed to die.
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

  1. Proverbs 31:5 Lit. sons of affliction
  2. Proverbs 31:8 Lit. sons of passing away
  3. Proverbs 31:10 Vv. 10–31 are an alphabetic acrostic in Hebrew; cf. Ps. 119
  4. Proverbs 31:10 Lit. a wife of valor, in the sense of all forms of excellence
  5. Proverbs 31:16 Lit. the fruit of her hands

The Sayings of King Lemuel’s Mother

31 The words of King Lemuel, an oracle that his mother taught him:

What, my son? And what, the son of my womb?
    And what, the son of my vows?
Do not give your strength to women,
    nor your ways to that which destroys kings.

It is not for kings, O Lemuel,
    it is not for kings to drink wine,
    nor for princes strong drink;
lest they drink and forget the law,
    and pervert the justice of any of the afflicted.
Give strong drink to him who is ready to perish,
    and wine to those who are of heavy hearts.
Let him drink, and forget his poverty,
    and remember his misery no more.

Open your mouth for the speechless
    in the cause of all such as are appointed to destruction.
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.

Exhortación a un rey

31 Palabras del rey Lemuel; la profecía con que le enseñó su madre.

¿Qué, hijo mío? ¿y qué, hijo de mi vientre?

¿Y qué, hijo de mis deseos?

No des a las mujeres tu fuerza,

Ni tus caminos a lo que destruye a los reyes.

No es de los reyes, oh Lemuel, no es de los reyes beber vino,

Ni de los príncipes la sidra;

No sea que bebiendo olviden la ley,

Y perviertan el derecho de todos los afligidos.

Dad la sidra al desfallecido,

Y el vino a los de amargado ánimo.

Beban, y olvídense de su necesidad,

Y de su miseria no se acuerden más.

Abre tu boca por el mudo

En el juicio de todos los desvalidos.

Abre tu boca, juzga con justicia,

Y defiende la causa del pobre y del menesteroso.

Elogio de la mujer virtuosa

10 Mujer virtuosa, ¿quién la hallará?

Porque su estima sobrepasa largamente a la de las piedras preciosas.

11 El corazón de su marido está en ella confiado,

Y no carecerá de ganancias.

12 Le da ella bien y no mal

Todos los días de su vida.

13 Busca lana y lino,

Y con voluntad trabaja con sus manos.

14 Es como nave de mercader;

Trae su pan de lejos.

15 Se levanta aun de noche

Y da comida a su familia

Y ración a sus criadas.

16 Considera la heredad, y la compra,

Y planta viña del fruto de sus manos.

17 Ciñe de fuerza sus lomos,

Y esfuerza sus brazos.

18 Ve que van bien sus negocios;

Su lámpara no se apaga de noche.

19 Aplica su mano al huso,

Y sus manos a la rueca.

20 Alarga su mano al pobre,

Y extiende sus manos al menesteroso.

21 No tiene temor de la nieve por su familia,

Porque toda su familia está vestida de ropas dobles.

22 Ella se hace tapices;

De lino fino y púrpura es su vestido.

23 Su marido es conocido en las puertas,

Cuando se sienta con los ancianos de la tierra.

24 Hace telas, y vende,

Y da cintas al mercader.

25 Fuerza y honor son su vestidura;

Y se ríe de lo por venir.

26 Abre su boca con sabiduría,

Y la ley de clemencia está en su lengua.

27 Considera los caminos de su casa,

Y no come el pan de balde.

28 Se levantan sus hijos y la llaman bienaventurada;

Y su marido también la alaba:

29 Muchas mujeres hicieron el bien;

Mas tú sobrepasas a todas.

30 Engañosa es la gracia, y vana la hermosura;

La mujer que teme a Jehová, esa será alabada.

31 Dadle del fruto de sus manos,

Y alábenla en las puertas sus hechos.

31 Words of Lemuel a king, a declaration that his mother taught him:

`What, my son? and what, son of my womb? And what, son of my vows?

Give not to women thy strength, And thy ways to wiping away of kings.

Not for kings, O Lemuel, Not for kings, to drink wine, And for princes a desire of strong drink.

Lest he drink, and forget the decree, And change the judgment of any of the sons of affliction.

Give strong drink to the perishing, And wine to the bitter in soul,

He drinketh, and forgetteth his poverty, And his misery he remembereth not again.

Open thy mouth for the dumb, For the right of all sons of change.

Open thy mouth, judge righteously, Both the cause of the poor and needy!'

10 A woman of worth who doth find? Yea, far above rubies [is] her price.

11 The heart of her husband hath trusted in her, And spoil he lacketh not.

12 She hath done him good, and not evil, All days of her life.

13 She hath sought wool and flax, And with delight she worketh [with] her hands.

14 She hath been as ships of the merchant, From afar she bringeth in her bread.

15 Yea, she riseth while yet night, And giveth food to her household, And a portion to her damsels.

16 She hath considered a field, and taketh it, From the fruit of her hands she hath planted a vineyard.

17 She hath girded with might her loins, And doth strengthen her arms.

18 She hath perceived when her merchandise [is] good, Her lamp is not extinguished in the night.

19 Her hands she hath sent forth on a spindle, And her hands have held a distaff.

20 Her hand she hath spread forth to the poor, Yea, her hands she sent forth to the needy.

21 She is not afraid of her household from snow, For all her household are clothed [with] scarlet.

22 Ornamental coverings she hath made for herself, Silk and purple [are] her clothing.

23 Known in the gates is her husband, In his sitting with elders of the land.

24 Linen garments she hath made, and selleth, And a girdle she hath given to the merchant.

25 Strength and honour [are] her clothing, And she rejoiceth at a latter day.

26 Her mouth she hath opened in wisdom, And the law of kindness [is] on her tongue.

27 She [is] watching the ways of her household, And bread of sloth she eateth not.

28 Her sons have risen up, and pronounce her happy, Her husband, and he praiseth her,

29 `Many [are] the daughters who have done worthily, Thou hast gone up above them all.'

30 The grace [is] false, and the beauty [is] vain, A woman fearing Jehovah, she may boast herself.

31 Give ye to her of the fruit of her hands, And her works do praise her in the gates!