Proverbs 31
Common English Bible
Words of King Lemuel
31 The words of King Lemuel of Massa, which his mother taught him:
2 No, my son!
No, son of my womb!
No, son of my solemn promises!
3 Don’t give your strength to women,
your ways to those who wipe out kings.
4 It isn’t for kings, Lemuel,
it isn’t for kings to drink wine,
for rulers to crave[a] strong drink.
5 Otherwise, they will drink and forget the law,
and violate the rights of the needy.
6 Give strong drink to those who are perishing
and wine to those whose hearts are bitter.
7 Let them drink and forget their poverty
and no longer remember their toil.
8 Speak out on behalf of the voiceless,
and for the rights of all who are vulnerable.[b]
9 Speak out in order to judge with righteousness
and to defend the needy and the poor.
The competent wife
10 A competent wife, how does one find her?
Her value is far above pearls.
11 Her husband entrusts his heart to her,
and with her he will have all he needs.
12 She brings him good and not trouble
all the days of her life.
13 She seeks out wool and flax;
she works joyfully with her hands.
14 She is like a fleet of merchant ships,
bringing food from a distance.
15 She gets up while it is still night,
providing food for her household,
even some for her female servants.
16 She surveys a field and acquires it;
from her own resources, she plants a vineyard.
17 She works energetically;
her arms are powerful.
18 She realizes that her trading is successful;
she doesn’t put out her lamp at night.
19 She puts her hands to the spindle;
her palms grasp the whorl.
20 She reaches out to the needy;
she stretches out her hands to the poor.
21 She doesn’t fear for her household when it snows,
because they are all dressed in warm[c] clothes.
22 She makes bedspreads for herself;
fine linen and purple are her clothing.
23 Her husband is known in the city gates
when he sits with the elders of the land.
24 She makes garments and sells them;
she supplies sashes to traders.
25 Strength and honor are her clothing;
she is confident about the future.
26 Her mouth is full of wisdom;
kindly teaching is on her tongue.
27 She is vigilant over the activities of her household;
she doesn’t eat the food of laziness.
28 Her children bless her;
her husband praises her:
29 “Many women act competently,
but you surpass them all!”
30 Charm is deceptive and beauty fleeting,
but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.
31 Let her share in the results of her work;
let her deeds praise her in the city gates.
Footnotes
- Proverbs 31:4 Or where or or
- Proverbs 31:8 Or all children who are passing away
- Proverbs 31:21 LXX; MT red
Proverbs 31
Darby Translation
31 The words of king Lemuel, the prophecy that his mother taught him:
2 What, my son? and what, O son of my womb? and what, O son of my vows?
3 Give not thy strength unto women, nor thy ways to them that destroy kings.
4 It is not for kings, Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine, nor for rulers [to say], Where is the strong drink?
5 —lest they drink and forget the law, and pervert the judgment of any of the children of affliction.
6 Give strong drink unto him that is ready to perish, and wine unto the bitter of soul:
7 let him drink, and forget his poverty, and remember his misery no more.
8 Open thy mouth for the dumb, for the cause of all those that are left desolate.
9 Open thy mouth, judge righteously, and minister justice to the afflicted and needy.
10 Who can find a woman of worth? for her price is far above rubies.
11 The heart of her husband confideth in her, and he shall have no lack of spoil.
12 She doeth 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 And she riseth while it is yet night, and giveth meat to her household, and the day's work to her maidens.
16 She considereth a field, and acquireth it; of the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard.
17 She girdeth her loins with strength, and maketh strong her arms.
18 She perceiveth that her earning is good; her lamp goeth not out by night.
19 She putteth her hands to the distaff, and her hands hold the spindle.
20 She stretcheth out her hand to the afflicted, and 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 coverlets; her clothing is byssus and purple.
23 Her husband is known in the gates, when he sitteth among the elders of the land.
24 She maketh body linen and selleth it, and delivereth girdles unto the merchant.
25 Strength and dignity are her clothing, and she laugheth [at] the coming day.
26 She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and upon her tongue is the law of kindness.
27 She surveyeth the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness.
28 Her children rise up and call her blessed; her husband [also], and he praiseth her:
29 Many daughters have done worthily, but thou excellest them all.
30 Gracefulness is deceitful and beauty is vain; a woman [that] feareth Jehovah, she shall be praised.
31 Give her of the fruit of her hands, and let her own works praise her in the gates.
Copyright © 2011 by Common English Bible
Public Domain (Why are modern Bible translations copyrighted?)